We will never forget

I long to be understood, to be heard. And sometimes it happens - sometimes another soul in this world truly gets who I am and what I feel.

But there is a part of me that is so used to not being understood, that I easily discount the bit of connection I experienced and quickly return to feeling not understood.

I have built a shrine to the tragedy of the unheard boy, the tragedy I lived for many years as a child. A part of me is so addicted to the pathos of that tragedy that I would rather continue reliving it than to open my eyes and accept the abundance of people around me who will actually listen.

The shrine, titled "We Will Never Forget", is actually a form of resentment, of repeating our litany of how we were abused, of reaffirming our victimhood. We hold onto the dead body instead of burying it and getting on with life.

I need to switch from worshiping the dead, to mourning the loss, to letting go, to embracing new life and abundance. This is the journey of healing.