Thompson Tough

My family..

Today I had a few people ask me what is Thompson Tough.

Something my wrestler/wrestling coach father always told me was to be tough. Not strong, not hopeful. Tough. Why? He always said tough is not just being strong on the outside, being tough is a mentality. Being mentally tough is key in not being defeated. Which a lot of wrestlers would agree with. (That was always one of my favorite things about my dad, taking his wrestling philosophy and making it into a life lesson.) Anyway, in my family, my Thompson family, we've had hard, rough times. But it's not like it ends, my mother calls it the series of unfortunate events. There is the stupid stupid cancer gene that has affected all of our lives and have taken away our loved ones. But sometimes it's not even the cancer. We've lost my uncle and cousin to an awful accident. We've been ripped a part as a family and gone years without contact. There has been jail sentences, we've ignored people who should be praised causing anger and tension. We have a broken family. 

But beyond that, my Thompson family, my whole, extended Thompson side are complete bad asses. PERIOD. They are some of the toughest individuals on this planet. We've watched people we love so much go through the fight against cancer who have had to be tough, they've had no choice. But we've also had those caregivers, our parents, sisters, brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles people who have married into the Thompson Family, and even "honorary Thompsons" who are tough as hell! They step up and come together despite what is going on in our lives, or in our family.  Some may say we lost. We lost because we have lost the people we love, and yes we've lost little pieces of ourselves with each individual who has passed. But we have a special bond. We have something you can't break down. We are mentally tough.  

My cousin, Dayna, who is not from my Thompson side. Started saying Thompson Tough when we were running the Race for the Cure. We loved it and in my little family it stuck. When she needed us we were happy to lend the toughness, our support and yes even a bit of the crazy. That's what we do. That's what we can do.

Thompson Tough;

An individual, or group. Does not have to be blood, does not have to be immediate family. Who never give up, who continue to fight through obstacles. Defeat our trials. With mental toughness and faith. Who even though we can be a complete mess, we leave our homes with a smile on our face, because that's who we are.

We are...

Thompson Tough.

Proud to be.