2016 has seen the passings of some of the greats: Prince, Gene Wilder, Alan Rickman, to name a few. Just recently, we lost George Michael on Christmas. And just when we think that 2016 is done..that nothing else can happen, something else has to happen. On Tuesday, December 27th, the world lost Carrie Fisher.
Carrie Fisher was a beloved actress known for playing Princess/General Leia Organa in the "Star Wars" franchise, but she was so much more than that. Carrie Fisher was a strong mental health advocate and spoke unabashedly about her struggles with addiction. Carrie Fisher was a strong role model for women, being unafraid to speak her mind, being feisty and brash, especially in a time and industry when that was looked down upon.
This loss is one that most of the world is feeling. Carrie was memorable in whatever she did, and she took hold of everything she was dealt. She turned her addiction into a life lesson, and she spoke about her struggle without reserve, and never saw it as something that was to be ashamed of. Carrie was open about her bipolar disorder, and never treated it as a burden. She helped people to understand the struggles that mentally ill people face, and she used her own mental health issues to be a voice for others who dealt with the same.
Carrie Fisher showed the world that women are allowed to be loud and outspoken, they were allowed to talk back and be leaders. She gave the world Leia, a woman who did just that. Alongside this, she allowed herself femininity, and showed us that femininity is not synonymous with quiet daintiness. Women are allowed to be feminine and beautiful, and they're allowed to be tough and take no crap.
Even in recent years, she spoke for the treatment of women. When people would comment about how she has aged since her "Star Wars" days, she would fight back against those sexist comments. She didn't want people to ask about how she aged, she wanted to be engaged in a real conversation. She stood for what she believed in, and she believed in herself.
It's important to remember Carrie for who she was. She was more than just Princess Leia in the gold bikini. She was a real person, a person who was strong and confident and didn't take crap from anyone. Her life was lived to the fullest that she could, and she didn't let anyone or anything get in the way. It's important to remember her as Carrie Fisher, as herself, and honor who she was. The world did not lose Princess Leia, it lost Carrie -- someone who was everything and more than Leia was.
Rest in paradise, Carrie Fisher. The Force is with her, always.
