"Why do we even try when the barriers are so high and the odds are so low? Why don't we just pack it in and go home? It would be so, so much easier. It's because in the end, there's no glory in easy. No one remembers easy. They remember the blood and the bones and the long, agonizing fight to the top. And that is how you become legendary."
" Grey's Anatomy" is a show well-known for it's diverse and interesting cast of characters, as is its spin-off "Private Practice." One character, Amelia Shepherd, made her way from sunny LA to live with her brother in Seattle in the 10th season of "Grey's" after a few guest appearances. She's reckless, irresponsible, damaged and extraordinary: a complicated mess of characteristics that makes her one of the most real and relatable characters the show has to offer. When she was 5 years old, her father was murdered in front of her. Later in life, she woke up to find her fiancé dead and then soon after discovered she was pregnant with his baby. She then suffered another loss when her anencephalic son died just 43 minutes after he was born. After moving to Seattle to live with her brother Derek Shepherd, he died in a car crash, leaving her completely alone. Despite all of this, she manages to be optimistic, confident and brave.
1. She knows everyone isn’t perfect.
So she tries to make up for it when other people need someone because she knows what it’s like to be left all alone.
2. She knows it's OK to move on.
Horrible things happen, and eventually you have to stop letting them control your life.
3. She doesn’t take anyone else’s judgement.
Amelia’s harshest critic is herself, 10 times out of 10, but she doesn’t take it from anyone else. She knows she’s made mistakes that have cost her dearly, but she doesn’t let it define her.
4. She doesn’t filter.
Sure, she’s tried, but when push comes to shove, No Filter Amelia wins out. She says what people need to hear to get it together.
5. She’s brave.
Not fearless, because she’s too smart for that. She knows bad things happen—especially to her, it seems—but she is brave. She walks into a fight knowing the odds are against her, and she goes down swinging for what she loves.
6. She never doubts herself.
Except for almost all of the time. She manages to be one of the strongest characters while constantly expecting herself to implode. She knows it’s OK to lean on people when you can’t quite believe in yourself.
7. She’s proud of who she is.
Even though sometimes who she is makes other people ashamed of her, she knows how to flaunt her greatness.
8. She knows fun facts.
Facts that would almost never be useful in normal, everyday conversation. Unless you’re Amelia Shepherd and don’t know how to filter.
9. She spent a lifetime feeling inferior.
She put every mistake on herself and thought it meant she wasn’t living up to the expectations set by her brother or family or friends.
10. She pulled greatness out of herself.
Even when she doubted herself over and over again; even when she had no one to save her; even when the universe seemed to be against her ever finding happiness in the midst of constant chaos.
11. She did it.
With everyone doubting her, leaving her alone, hating her and failing to support her in her time of need, she found a way to be her own superhero.
