Have you ever heard Ernest Hemingway’s quote from the 1929 book “A Farewell to Arms”? It reads:
“The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places.”
This quote reminds me of my clients.
Since 2002 I’ve worked with individuals who have survived traumatic events including torture, rape, domestic violence, sexual assault, physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse and neglect in childhood, war and community violence. Some are living with chronic and/or terminal illness including HIV, diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis and cancer. Others are caring for loved ones with these and other illnesses.
Through therapy, they learn to recognize their own resilience. It doesn’t mean what they’ve been through wasn’t so bad. It doesn’t mean that they don’t care about the pain they experienced, both physically and emotionally, or that it doesn’t hurt. It doesn’t mean what happened was okay. It means that in spite of all that, they are able to maintain hope and perspective through the daily troubles of life realizing, because of surviving such horrors, that every day is a gift. Because of those experiences they choose to live happily.
I am always inspired by the strength my clients exhibit in the face of overwhelming challenges. Rather than being irreparably damaged by their experiences, they are “strong at the broken places.”
Today I read a blog post which took my breath away. Gilly Cannon, who writes about caregiving on her blog Brainstorm poignantly describes the incredible strength in each person who has faced adversity using the metaphor of Kintsukuroi, which I never heard of before reading this.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. Here it is: Kintsukuroi! I'd love to know what you think. Please reply in the comments below!
Warmly,
Laura J. Reagan, LCSW-C
www.laurareaganlcswc.com