#selfproclamations #labels #trauma #anxiety #depression #ptsd #unworthy #useless #abortion #failure #abused #shame

These are my words.

The ones I see when I look at my reflection.

Whether I am glaring at my naked stare in the bathroom mirror or peering into my own eyes right before hitting that live button on a facebook video recording.

These are the things that terrorize me and keep me in a box, trapped like I am claustrophobic and have no way out.

These are the labels, the identities, the limitations I have put on myself.

These are the words that have brought me to my knees, screaming at the sky wondering "Why me?!"

Why was I born into a family of addicts, who's prerogative was a quick fix that only takes a lifetime to feel? To parents who chose a different dimension and disassociation from parenthood. A mental state that did not even include me in illusion.

Why was I loved by cold, callous men who could not sit with me, or sit with me in my feelings?

Why was I the odd one out at every table I ever tried to join, even when I arrived early to the party?

Why was I shunned from the ones I set my heart down with and believed were my "people"?

What was wrong with me every single time I set myself up in race for greatness but only after practicing cool knots on my laces, because creativity comes at the wrong times and running fast was never my thing....

These words have burdened me.

And the people who have wrote them, those people were ...well, me.

I was a different woman each time I took a sharpie to my skin. Chose to mark myself to remember the occasion, a tattoo to commemorate each failure for the books.

I was the one to write other peoples' false perceptions of me on my own body. To allow myself to pick labels that acted like hot acid on every single cut I tried to bandage.

Up until now, no matter what I did to cover up these words, wear enough so they would not show -----> every time I stayed in bed under the covers so no one could see me at all.

All I really did was avoid healing.

These words are very real to me but I now resonate with them in a completely different way.

As I uncover each one, as I invite you to see them all, i also invite myself to see what i look like wearing them.

I realized this week that I am finding acceptance with these marks ------> because I am finally understanding what each version of past me meant and felt when she wrote them.

How hard it was for her to etch each one into my skin, tear stricken and emotionally exhausted.

It was a message that I now get LOUD AND CLEAR.

Bare them.

Show them all.

To everyone.

Someone in the crowd sits still, yet so unsettled.

Someone out there just mustered up all the strength they could, to drag themselves out in the light of day -------> just to lead up to this moment.

Just to see your scars and your words.

And finally not feel alone at the table.

J.S. Jaded Savior .com