Put It into Words

I guess you could say that making the unconscious conscious has become something of a goal of mine, so I am grateful for the humans, especially women, who beautifully explain to me myself and others in my life. When the words I read—sometimes in unexpected places—turn out to be the medicine my soul needs and I can finally put my finger on something that has eluded me, I come away feeling like each step on the path was just right, because all together, they got me where I needed to go.

I found Whitney Hanson’s book Harmony in my hands this morning, and this poem settled the soul that sometimes feels like maybe she shouldn’t share:

they say when you grow up in a burning house you think the whole world is on fire.

i didn’t grow up in a burning house. i grew up in a house where we hid the fire. i grew up in a house where everyone was secretly burning on the inside, but we didn’t dare speak of it. i grew up in a house where we wore our armor like a badge of honor and pretended that nothing ever hurt us. for so long i thought it was only me who felt like i was deteriorating from the inside.

now i put my flames on paper. because i need you to know that there are others whose fires are kept inside like a scorching secret.

i will not let you burn alone.