Talking with a friend yesterday, and sharing some of the challenges from my life, like “My small voice used to run the show. My self-esteem was pretty tiny.” she was taken aback. She said, “I can’t believe you ever felt that way about yourself!”
I’m writing today simply to let you know that, Yes!, everyone has a story. Everyone, regardless of the image they portray, the person you see, or the current state of their life, everyone does have a story. It is our stories that make us beautiful! It is our history, our challenges, our successes, that give us character and depth and add so much value to who we are today.
My stories include deep challenges with co-dependency, perfectionism, self-hate, depression. My successes, my joys, include 12 step recovery, and learning to love myself in my perfectly imperfect humanness.
My life is an open book. I wouldn’t be who I am without the opportunities that life has presented, the support that has buoyed me up, and the joy of overcoming. Ask away!
More importantly, ask yourself:
- What are the stories of my life that I feel a need to hide?
- What character strengths are buried with those stories?
- What is mine to give the world by claiming and letting you see all of me?
And one last question: Who in your life has a deeper story that they need to share with you?