Grey's Anatomy first aired in 2005; 11 years later, many deaths, mistakes, and heartbreak later... fans are still holding on tightly. I myself didn't fully watch Grey's until a couple of summers ago. I binge watched the first 10 seasons with my roommate... (no shame). I fell in love with the story that Shonda wrote for us to connect with, but on a deeper level, I wanted to be Cristina. So here's my reasons for striving to be Dr. Cr
1. Celebrating her Mind
There's this fine line of what constitutes as beautiful. People utilize the word as a descriptor of physical appearance, where Cristina would rather be looked at for her mind, and everything that she could prove she was capable of doing.
2. Goal Setting
Cristina had a plan, rule a planet, be an Amazonian that protects the people, or a surgeon. She didn’t let anyone get in the way of her becoming a surgeon, and saving lives of people who needed it. Set the goal high, and reach it, there’s no other way.
3. Making Kind of Jokes
It usually came off as serious, and maybe it was, but when someone was obsessively complaining about something or if someone irritated her, or even stole one of her surgeries, she knew what to say. Maybe it was a little bit violent, but at least people found it comic relief in a dreary moment.
4. Never Accepting Less
Cristina NEVER accepted crappy to be part of her life. She wanted more, she expected more, and she'd do anything to reach it, to see her colleagues achieve something, even if she still felt superior to them.
5. Honesty
Cristina was not afraid to look people in the eye and tell them like it was. I know that I cried many tears during this particular episode because she wanted her person to feel just as important as she was to her. In reality, this kind of honesty can set in motion a sort of self-importance that we as humans sometimes lack.
6. Loyalty to Her "Person"
There was always those moments, you know the ones I'm referring to, the Mer and Cristina soulmate moments. Cristina was loyal to Meredith as Meredith was to her. They were each other's person, not afraid of the judgment of the masses or what their relationship lacked because no matter what, they had each other's back.
7. Her Love
Cristina was too proud to admit it (except to Meredith on occasion), but she truly loved some of the people she worked with. Taking care and knowing that they still had someone in their corner, someone who'd have their back, or their "person" made it excellent for her.
8. Smashing the Patriarchy!
It's too common in life when people say things like "don't be a pussy," or "you're acting like a woman." Cristina refused to see how being a woman was insulting. She was empowered while wanting to spread the ovary-loving, goddess-like awesomeness that is woman.
9. Breaking the Baby Norm
Not everyone wants to be a parent. Cristina made it very clear and obvious that she was not a fan of children, and she truly didn't want any of her own in the future. She stood against societal norms as a heterosexual woman who didn't want to procreate, but succeed at what she loved to do. Cardiothoracic surgeries were her babies, and that was more than enough for her. (Note* This is not a knock against any women that had or want to have children.)
10. Realistically Optimistic
Even in the darkest of situations, even in the moments where even she felt like she might not be able to go on, in the back of her twisted thoughts… she knew that she could get through it. She knew that people were resilient enough to get through it because she could get through it.
11. DANCE IT OUT
It's not THE best coping mechanism that a person has, BUT by dancing Cristina is sending endorphins through her body, so I'm game. DANCE IT OUT. Do you have a problem? Shut up... dance it out. You have an exam that you're freaked out about? DANCE IT OUT. We all know it sucks, but you just have to go with it.
12. Knowing When to Call for Backup
It’s that moment that Cristina knew that she couldn’t succeed alone, that it was ok to need and want her person to be around when she accomplished something. Granted this was often shown through tequila induced fun, but nonetheless, she was willing to ask for it.
13. Breaking Gender Norms
Society has made it that when a woman has a high sexual drive, they're more or less slut-shamed. Not only did Cristina not adhere to traditional gender normalities that society and other people had initially place on her gender, she didn't care that she may not have liked who she was doing it with. You go Cristina! Consensual Sex friends are mutual!
14. Food Priorities
Let’s be real here—why stay at a party if there’s nothing to
eat? I feel as though I have aspired to this… what’s a party without
sustenance?
In other words, Cristina Yang is the epitome of Woman Awesomeness; she takes on the world and makes it hers with or without the judgment of other people. She'd rather be known for her abilities and accomplishments, and for that, she's an inspiration.
