Why Share?

Today was the last day of the injured-dancer-support-group that I have been in! Which essentially was group therapy. I have never been in any type of group therapy before, but after this experience I would highly recommend it to anyone who can find a support group that is a good match. I was so sad today for it to end, only because I have found deep healing with these people. First of all- to be in a space where people have experienced some of the same pain and struggle that you have is incredible. To share something with a group of people who are going to “get it” is just a different thing. And I have never had a space for these kinds of conversations about identity, loss, and rehabilitation. Second of all- to be in this space and hear the stories of the other people brought more healing than I could have imagined. It is an incredibly powerful thing to have to sit and listen and hear that you are not actually alone, you are not actually the only person on the planet who has felt this way, and you are not the only person going through this. Sitting in a room and listening to other’s does something to your heart. It’s like you have no choice but to practice empathy, and so your heart has no choice but to open and change. It has made me realize- we can heal each other. 

We are living in a time when people are beginning to share darkness they’ve experienced in a very transparent way. And when you share the darkness, it brings it out of the dark and into the light. In this space, the potential for healing is limitless. Our generation is pegged for being over-sharers. We will tell you about our shame and our struggle and also how awesome we are. The ‘how awesome we are’ part tends to rule social media. Millennials get a bad rep for this. And yet our generation is coming to adulthood at the exact time when huge issues are coming into light that have been swept under the rug. So maybe our “over-sharing” can actually be incredibly helpful in the right place. The people I know in my generation want to talk about big issues like sexual assault, discrimination, privilege, shame, and bravery. And I am proud of that. It’s not just our generation who are “sharing”. It seems to me that there is a shift happening in how we relate to one another. The work of people like Brene Brown, Glennon Doyle, and Elizabeth Gilbert are changing the way we “share” in this country. 

I’ve had a couple strange comments from a couple people about my blog. Not quite criticizing it, but saying something like “It’s like a journal” or “You share a lot” or “I wouldn’t be interested in this if I didn’t know you”. Not even sure what to say about that last one. Thanks for knowing me I guess? Somewhere in these comments I sensed that my transparency made them uncomfortable. My immediate response internally was to go to a place of shame. To a place of “Who were you kidding?” “No one is interested in your thoughts and stories” “You’re definitely over-sharing, and it’s not helping anyone.”. Then I thought. And I listened. And I listened to the people in my group who’s stories have penetrated my heart. And I realized- thank God for the people who I have shared with me. I wouldn’t be the same person without them. Then I remembered that the first reason for starting this blog is for me. And for my sanity. So fuck the haters ;). (Which if we’re being really honest the only haters I really need to worry about are the ones in my own head).

I’m not telling you to go and spill your guts to everyone you meet or to share your most shameful things on Instagram (But wouldn’t that be interesting if everyone did do that once a week? Ha!). I am encouraging you to share your pain. And share your story. Share it with the people around you. Be honest about what you’re going through and what you’re afraid of. Bringing these things to light will lighten your load. And actually, you have no idea who’s heart will find healing because of something you shared.  

I am taking my CPT (Certified Personal Training) exam next week and I am so excited to join this world of fitness professionals. Through all of the physical therapy I am doing now and have done in my life, I have learned a lot about how to stabilize that dang body. Working on stabilizing more today with this exercise ball. :). Stabilize yo body! It will stabilize more than just that.