neither here nor there?

Talking about your weaknesses and flaws is hard. Talking about your strengths and accomplishments is also hard. Why? Because of the little voice in your head that constantly criticizes your thoughts or dismisses your feelings. These voices can be your own or from others over the course of your life. It's bad enough to be self-critical, and then you have other people who feel entitled to have an opinion about everything, including you.

Healing comes in different colors and sizes and shapes. What works for one person may not work for another. Because we are multidimensional beings, even the manner of healing will take on multiple ways. As much as I can open my mind to the possibilities of how human beings can be, I still find myself boggled by the close-mindedness that exists, especially among "open-minded" folks. Yes, you read correctly. Just because you think you're open-minded doesn't mean it applies in every situation you find yourself in. This happens to me as well, and it's not to discourage but to educate and help each of us grow. Without mistakes and conflict, we wouldn't step into higher awareness, a higher consciousness.

When will we realize that the things we find most difficult to open up about are what should be discussed? That's the first step to healing. People don't want to talk about things that make them feel ashamed, that can't be categorized into black and white categories, or that make others feel uncomfortable. Most people don't want to talk about sexual trauma or domestic abuse. Mental health problems and eating disorders are so misunderstood. The statistics are chilling.

I know I'm not the only one carrying around unspoken traumas. As I begin my social work journey, I pray that I can encourage or provide a safe place for people to share their stories.