Natasha Romanoff does a lot of legwork in the Marvel Comics and Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Holding together fragile coalitions of superheroes post-Snap, scaring off domestic abusers, wiping out that red in her ledger–the woman is a dynamo.
So how can you tap into some of that energy without pushing yourself over the brink? Keep in mind these three Black Widow-inspired tips:
1. Diversify your skills and abilities. One of the reasons Natasha is so confident in fights is that she has mastered a ton of different martial arts. She’s quick, anticipatory, and knows what her enemy is going to do before they do it. (With the exception of Taskmaster, of course.)
So that second or third language you’ve always wanted to learn? Go for it. Gardening been on your bucket list for a while? Get that green thumb. You never know when a skill or ability is going to come in handy–both professionally and personally!
2. Switch up your appearance. The Black Widow is a master of disguise, allowing her to be whomever the situation calls for. In the MCU alone, she’s been blonde, brunette, and redheaded with various hair lengths.
While we’re not suggesting you morph into someone different every day, remember that a small change to your aesthetics can be fun. A haircut, a temporary dye job, a new scarf, different glasses, or a tattoo you’ve been thinking about for years can all inject some vivacity into your life.
3. Remember–nobody’s perfect. After being trained in the Red Room as a child assassin, Natasha had a great deal to heal from. In many of the comics and movies, she’s trying to set things right by working for S.H.I.E.L.D or doing missions that eliminate some big bad dudes oppressing others.
Tasha reminds us that nobody is perfect. We all have our scars from childhood, narratives that we were told and then adopted as truths. The best we can do is keep pressing forward and own our mistakes. As a wise woman fan of SHS puts it, “Just keep moving your feet no matter what.”
What do you think Black Widow can teach us? Share in the comments below!
Superheroine Solutions 