Amanda Deibert tweeted a provocative story prompt recently…
Tell me about a time someone told you that you could not do something and you went ahead and succeeded out of spite.
— Amanda Deibert ️ (@amandadeibert) April 19, 2019
And Twitter delivered with some absolutely stories! Enjoy these 12 times when people used spite as their inspiration to succeed!
1. Girls can’t play!
I was told in 6th grade that I couldn’t play on the boys softball team (there was no girls softball team). I made it onto the team as the first girl ever to play softball for my school. We ended up winning the city finals. Now it’s a co-ed team. #GirlPower
— Olivia Wright (@oliviawrightt) April 19, 2019
2. Masters. Emmy. Next!
I had teachers make me take tests again in front of them because there was no way a black kid scored that high… I have a Masters. I was told I would never succeed in comedy bc I was too fat/not black enough… I have an Emmy. Someone please tell me I can't be a millionaire.
— Ashley Nicole Black (@ashleyn1cole) April 20, 2019
3. RIP prejudice!
My head of department told me that over his dead body would he ever appoint a woman to the faculty. He’s dead, I’m a Distinguished Professor
— Dr. Kim Barrett (@jphysiol_eic) April 21, 2019
4. We’ve come so far!
I was a young lesbian growing up in Foster Care; I heard “you can’t” and “you’ll never” a lot. Today I am a double PhD and happily married to my wife of 10 years (married only 7, Prop 8 tried to tell me no, too).
— Sheryl ️ (@psybrdoc) April 19, 2019
5. Never give up!
Also doctors told me I’d never read, write, or speak in sentences again after severe domestic violence-related traumatic brain injury. Ten years later, I’m an author, and my memoir is optioned for film.
— Alice Anderson (@AlicePoet) April 20, 2019
6. Canadian dreams!
In 1988 I was told my broadcast aspirations should focus on weather or entertainment — sportscasting on TV was male domain. In 2000 I had the honour of being the first woman, in canadian broadcast history, to host her “own sports show” in prime time.
— Jody Vance (@jodyvance) April 21, 2019
7. Self hate turns into self motivate!
I am meaner to myself than anyone I know, so I constantly do things after telling myself I will never be able to do them. Latest example is I made an awesome sweater after years of only knitting scarves and hats because sweaters were too hard for me. pic.twitter.com/257NypeucF
— Helena (@gohexyourself) April 19, 2019
8. That’s Dr. McDonald’s to you!
I was continuously told growing up by certain very close to me that I’d do nothing better with my life than work at McDonald’s.
I just finished placing hardware in someone’s spine that would help them walk at their grandchild’s wedding this summer.— Patty (@ModernMoreMen) April 19, 2019
9. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet…
This is a very small thing but I went to a garden shop to buy a rose bush and the store manager said "I'm not selling you roses. You don't need a hobby."
I started spite gardening and now I have a thriving garden and a huge rose bush in my backyard.
— kelly doklady ruth (@skeltzer) April 19, 2019
10. Karma is a bitch!
Got married my first year of law school. Overheard prof telling someone I’d be knocked up and dropped out w/in year. Had baby, graduated first in my class. Prof. since disbarred. Not so much “spite” as karma. But, yeah, go ahead and tell me no …
— Danielle A. (@ProfMomEsq) April 19, 2019
11. Published. Boom!
Nothing I wrote seemed to please my Writing the Essay professor. Now I have a published book of essays. He does not.
— Mara “Get Rid of the Nazis” Wilson (@MaraWilson) April 20, 2019
12. Don’t ever limit yourself!
The doctor who delivered me told my mom that people with dwarfism only get jobs in the entertainment industry & now I’m pursuing my doctorate in audiology
— Lydia Sarah Barber (@trippin_on_LSB) April 21, 2019
Whether it’s spite that motivates you or something else, always go out there and try to turn your dreams into reality.
Because what’s life without dreams?
