On the Phrases in "Shame & Redemption" - Part 1

PD James wrote, "All words need life to give them meaning."

Sometimes people choose to use the life behind their words for destruction, and sometimes to build one another up. Either way, the words are infused with meaning.

Here is an example from my current work in progress, "Shame & Redemption".

The "Shame" phrase reads, "Not like 'me, ' not good enough." Too many times I have encountered someone who has said that my experience is invalid or less than or wrong because it isn't theirs. The dismissive and judgmental tone often used creates even more distance between the experiences. Others I spoke to for this project have similar stories.

The " Redemption" phrase reads, "We ALL already belong." Living as who we are is not a "right" bestowed upon us by some random person, whether it's a family member, a friend, or a government agency. Nobody gets to say that another person's experience is less than, simply because they haven't lived it. Everyone's experiences, from a 2 year old's to a 102 year old's is equally valid.

Too many people have to experience sympathy in order to understand where someone else is coming from. Empathy requires emotional maturity and a simple desire to be kind.