The Joy in Talking
Day 9. #pilgrimagetojoy
Community takes the ‘C’ out of crazy
A stranger who I had met who shared this gem with me. I never got her name.
At first, I didn’t know what this woman meant by this comment, but it stuck with me because I was astonished by how much we don’t share in community with one another about our journeys. Too often we are scared and ashamed, embarassed to share our darkest most vulnerable moments. Afraid we will be thought of as ‘crazy’, ‘weak’, ‘not a strong enough believer’, ‘a mistake’, ‘not worthy’, not good enough’, ‘unforgivable’, ‘overly dramatic.’
But it is in sharing, in talking that we can shed light in the darkness and healing, or forgiveness, or friendship, or a new way out, a resolution can be revealed. Human beings are complex and varied to say the least and I am pretty sure that whatever it is that is silencing our tongues has been done before or experienced before. We are not alone and remembering that brings me joy.
What if we were to talk about it? Build community around it? Even if that community is you and one other person, or a stranger with a listening ear, or frankly a piece of paper that will absorb the ink of a focused pen controlled by you, writing your story and writing a new ending. How do we begin? Maybe it’s as simple as saying ‘help’.
I pray that we each muster up the courage to tell our stories. To not be afraid. To not think that we are alone. To not think we are the only ones ever to experience what we are feeling. To not think we are so different. There is a community. It is a human community. Ubuntu: I am because we are.
Dare to be vulnerable. Denial and shame thrives in silence. Choose not to be silent. Don’t keep it to yourself. Empower yourself and others by embracing your story.
Beth-Sarah Wright, 10 Things I Wish I Knew About Depression Before it Almost Took My Life
Beautiful, thanks I needed that day. Blessings,
Sent from my iPhone
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Thanks, I needed that today.
I actually wrote a small book about
a bad experience in my life. It probably only helped me as I did not sell many, but writing was my therapy.
Blessings,
So glad to hear this Patrice. Thank you for writing your story. Joy to you!
Thank you Patrice. Joy to you!