There's Strength In Numbers
I've always found it interesting how people relate to one another. As humans, we are not solitary creatures. Even individuals who pride themselves on being "loners", usually have friends, other "loners" they hang out with.
Fashion trends are started by someone trying to break the mold and create their own style, and invariably it is copied by someone else, and this ruins the "unique" element of their fashion message.
Everyone wants to stand out, to be recognized and celebrated for their unique talents.
But at the end of the day, few of us want to be alone.
How does one remain unique while at the same time being a part (even if it's only a physical presence) of a crowd?
I would say I have been kidding myself about believing I was the only one who self-injured, but I assure you this is true. The things I have thought and done have, even to me, been so bizarre, to imagine anyone else doing them is a stretch.
But the more I speak out, the more I know I am not alone, and this fact gives me some sense of commraderie. If I'm not the only one, then I can't be as crazy as I feel sometimes.
If there are others like me, then I don't have to struggle in isolation.
There's strength in numbers.
The battle seems easier to win if I believe I'm not the only one in the trenches.
I may not be able to see you or hear you, but I can read your words and get strength from the messages I am sent.
So much of life is a personal struggle. Everyone has their own, and few have time to help others with theirs.
How many times have I offered to be there for another person only to realize I didn't have the strength to live up to that offer?
But it goes both ways.
The offer of help is usually a polite one. Few truly mean what they say and I know it. People offer to be there for me, "night or day", but I know in their hearts they're praying I won't call and I don't.
But the offer was expected, it was made, we're square.
I know they care, they feel good because they've shown they care, but that's all. Both of us know that I won't allow myself to be that vulnerable in their eyes and they won't have a chance to feel like a hero, comforting me at three in the morning as I try to pry myself away from the abyss.
Interesting, the games people play.
But in order to be strong, there have to people you really can call at three in the morning and I am blessed to have a couple of those.
Sometimes reassurance is all you need to stand up one more time.
Today, I have that reassurance from other people. I know I am not alone. I know I am not crazy. I know others can benefit from my story if I am willing to share it.
If we're all in this together, what have we got to lose?
Fashion trends are started by someone trying to break the mold and create their own style, and invariably it is copied by someone else, and this ruins the "unique" element of their fashion message.
Everyone wants to stand out, to be recognized and celebrated for their unique talents.
But at the end of the day, few of us want to be alone.
How does one remain unique while at the same time being a part (even if it's only a physical presence) of a crowd?
I would say I have been kidding myself about believing I was the only one who self-injured, but I assure you this is true. The things I have thought and done have, even to me, been so bizarre, to imagine anyone else doing them is a stretch.
But the more I speak out, the more I know I am not alone, and this fact gives me some sense of commraderie. If I'm not the only one, then I can't be as crazy as I feel sometimes.
If there are others like me, then I don't have to struggle in isolation.
There's strength in numbers.
The battle seems easier to win if I believe I'm not the only one in the trenches.
I may not be able to see you or hear you, but I can read your words and get strength from the messages I am sent.
So much of life is a personal struggle. Everyone has their own, and few have time to help others with theirs.
How many times have I offered to be there for another person only to realize I didn't have the strength to live up to that offer?
But it goes both ways.
The offer of help is usually a polite one. Few truly mean what they say and I know it. People offer to be there for me, "night or day", but I know in their hearts they're praying I won't call and I don't.
But the offer was expected, it was made, we're square.
I know they care, they feel good because they've shown they care, but that's all. Both of us know that I won't allow myself to be that vulnerable in their eyes and they won't have a chance to feel like a hero, comforting me at three in the morning as I try to pry myself away from the abyss.
Interesting, the games people play.
But in order to be strong, there have to people you really can call at three in the morning and I am blessed to have a couple of those.
Sometimes reassurance is all you need to stand up one more time.
Today, I have that reassurance from other people. I know I am not alone. I know I am not crazy. I know others can benefit from my story if I am willing to share it.
If we're all in this together, what have we got to lose?