Some are there, plain as day, and others virtually invisible. Still others are not left on or in our skin, but our souls. They are reminders. They form our stories. Remnants of our past. They shape us and affect our decisions. They mold our fears. and our hopes. They are evidence that we have lived. They hold us back and push us forward. They are important.
I like mine. Anything done differently could have made me a different person. I like who I've become. Who I'm becoming. Nuances and quirks developed over time as a result of reacting and coping with life. with people. Things I probably have not realized or faced. Mountains to climb and storms to weather.
Learning about others is always wondrous, even when it is frustrating. Incredible amounts of conversation and observation will still leave ideas unknown, details forgotten. Complete understanding is unreachable, but there is so much awe to be found in exploration. In the process of slowly turning light toward the shadows. Shadows that fade at the gentle touch of dawn and shadows that hold their ground and resist revelation.
In many instances, hiding them seems the wisest choice. They are such an integral part of our identity. How many of them can you hide before you are hiding yourself? How can anyone ever know us if we never come out into the light? Discomforts and insecurities lead us to places that seem safe, but leave us empty. Looking for something we refuse to accept once we actually find it.
All it takes is time and a momentous journey unfolds. They are a vital aspect of our perspective and perception. They influence our decisions. They gather and increase every day. Ceaselessly molding us and affecting us. The new mix with the old and things change and things stay the same.
Memories and scars. Marring and revealing the beauty of everyone.
