Becoming More Than We Were Programmed to Be

Last fall, my littlest one and I read The Wild Robot series together. It became our special ritual—cozy evenings spent lost in Roz’s journey of survival, transformation, and self-discovery. When the movie adaptation was released, we planned a date to see it on opening day, just the two of us. Since then, he’s been eagerly awaiting its arrival on Peacock so he can experience its magic all over again. Almost daily, he watches the preview, checking to see if it’s finally available.

Every time Roz’s voice echoes the line, “Sometimes, to survive, you must become more than you were programmed to be,” I feel a chill run down my spine. What a profound truth. What a beautiful reminder for us all. Life often demands that we step beyond the comfort of what feels safe, adapt in ways we never imagined, and sometimes even rewrite our very essence to endure and grow through challenging circumstances.

That statement lingers with me, not just as a lesson for my children but as a deeply personal truth. How often in life have I had to push beyond what I was “programmed to be”? How often, as women, do we have to break free from societal norms that try to box us into predefined roles and expectations? The unspoken rules of how we’re supposed to act, what we’re supposed to want, and who we’re supposed to be have long served as limits to our potential.

I was never much of a rule follower, though. Growing up, I was labeled the troublemaker, the difficult one, the misfit. Not because I enjoyed rebellion for rebellion’s sake but because deep down, I refused to stay confined by the labels and expectations thrust upon me by loved ones or society. I wasn’t trying to make waves—I was simply trying to survive in a world that often felt like it wasn’t made for me. In doing so, I learned to adapt. I learned to rewrite the program.

Roz’s words validate my journey. They bring healing to those times when I felt like I didn’t belong because I wasn’t “playing the part.” Survival for me meant growing, changing, and becoming more than the world told me I was allowed to be. And while those seasons of “becoming” were uncomfortable and even isolating, they were also empowering. The pushback I faced—whether from loved ones who couldn’t understand or a society unwilling to bend—was proof that I was moving forward, breaking through limitations, and forging a path of my own.

Each time I chose to embrace change, I discovered new strengths within myself. I unearthed skills and capabilities that I never knew existed. And every time I leaned into the hard, I grew closer to becoming the best version of myself—not because I was trying to be perfect but because I was willing to grow through discomfort.

Roz’s words remind us of this too: the beauty of resilience. They teach us that survival is not the end goal. Thriving is. And to thrive, we must embrace the struggle, the unknown, and the discomfort of stepping beyond the program.

When we do this, we don’t just endure life’s challenges—we transform because of them. We become adaptable, capable, and resilient individuals. We become more than we were ever told we could be.

So here’s to stepping outside the program. To breaking free of the limits and rewriting what survival looks like. Here’s to the reminder that we were never meant to just survive—we were meant to thrive.