Lessons From Dexter
He might be a brutal serial-killer
But he’s a nice boy, really.
If you want to listen to me read it…click the headphones ^^^^^
It’s an actual problem.
I have a Dexter addiction.
Things like eating, going to the toilet, and collecting children from school are basically annoying interruptions.
And I know the finale is not supposed to be any good… no spoilers, I’m enjoying the ride.
If you haven’t watched it, get Netflix immediately
(I’ve got loads of other recommendations for you but they are possibly a bit ‘niche’ for an email)
Anyhoo…
5 Life Lessons from Dexter
1. Everyone has a ‘Dark Passenger’
For Dexter, unfortunately, that manifested itself in a series of horrific ritualised murders, and disposal of bodies.
If that’s your Dark Passenger – try to at least cut down.
Otherwise – if it’s eating the wrong things, meaning to get some exercise, drinking on a school night, getting into unnecessary bitch-fests….or being too timid… you have 2 choices really.
a: Accept it. Live with the consequences.
(Stay overweight, have a boring time, develop alcoholism, brutally murder people who have wronged you..)
or b: Sort it out.
(make a plan, little steps, get someone to help, stick to it, feel better, stop murdering people, go and find Lumen and live happily ever after)
Dexter went for a. I don’t know if that works out for him.
2. Full English Breakfasts are a Bit Disgusting
Dexter’s title sequence is BRILLIANT. (Google it later)
It shows the cutting and cooking of slabs of flesh and puts you right off your chipolatas.
I’ve put my favourite breakfast recipes in my food plan. It’s free.
Drop me a line if you’d like them. I Couldn’t face a ‘Full English’ now.
3. Grafting Pays Off.
Deb is Dexter’s sister.
She’s amazing. Clever, hardworking and kick-ass detective that is like a dog-with-a-bone about anything she really cares about.
(Also I like that she basically dresses like a boy and doesn’t try to tart her way to the top or do the fluffy bunny ‘ooh I am just a girl’ thing to get ahead.) #girlboss
Cool.
My Dad once said to me:
“If you know something’s right, and you try for long enough and hard enough – it will come good.”
Like the person you know that has tried every ‘diet’ out there and “none of them work”.
It either isn’t good. Or she hasn’t tried hard enough.
Fat creeps up on you (Look at Sergeant Batista from series 1 to series 6)
I’ve done it myself.
Sat down to write a childrens Music and Movement programme; 3 months later stood up and had a rather rounder bottom.
Little changes…kind of didn’t always get to the classes I used to go to, and sort of snacked as I wrote, and towels were off increasingly earlier in the evening TAA-DAAAAAA – Big Butt Betty!
And I am INTO that kind of thing.
Took a bit more than 3 months to sort the butt. But I stuck with it. Now I like it.
(I mean it’s no Rhianna’s, but it does me fine)
4. You Need a Good Team
Miami Metro Police Homicide Department has a good team. (The odd serial killer – but a good team)
They have each other’s backs, trust each other
(except for when they don’t – but that doesn’t help me make my point) and know which person is best for which job.
YOU need a good team.
Really hard to do everything on your own.
They say that you become the average of the five people you spend most time with. Your Team.
(Given that I spend a lot of my time with 6 year olds, and sweaty people jumping up and down, that sounds about right)
- Need an organisational restructure?
- Is there anyone in your team that isn’t pulling their weight?
- Not helping the department?
- Being flaky?
- Letting you down?
- Not ‘having your back’?
- Or – is there a Vacancy?
Worth a think….
5. Childhood is just the Title Sequence…What You Do Next Defines You
Oh my GOODNESS have I learned that one as I have got to Botox O’Clock age.
(haven’t had any, but if there’s a Groupon…)
Dexter had the kind of childhood and life that essentially set him up to do what he did.
So did I.
And so did you.
Hopefully in your case you didn’t watch your mother being chopped into bits and then be taken in by someone who trained you in how to kill and not be caught….
But we are the sum of EVERYTHING that’s happened; not JUST our childhood.
It’s what happens next, that’s most important.
Everywhere you turn there’s crossroads; new chances to change things, make different choices, sort stuff out.
If you blame your childhood for EVERYTHING that ever happens or get into the habit of saying “well that’s just me”…then nothing changes.
18 year old you isn’t the same you as now. Or the same you as 60 year old will be.
You get to choose.
Your life is the sum of your decisions.
Innit.
If getting fit and sorting out your butt, is your Dark Passenger – it can be done. If it’s anxiety, poor eating, sleeplessness or low mood. Things CAN get better – even though it feels impossible now.
In summary…
1. Everyone has a ‘Dark Passenger’
2. Full English Breakfasts are a Bit Disgusting
3. Grafting Pays Off.
4. You Need a Good Team
5. Childhood is just the Title Sequence…
p.s. Dexter DID eventually realise;
That through making different choices, being influenced by different people that helped him find new ways and realising that the way he acted wasn’t inevitable, and he could break the mould of his childhood.
The same way you can.
But Dexter just really enjoyed murdering people.