On the Phrases in "Shame & Redemption" - Part 5

Work-in-progress, "Shame & Redemption"

One of the people I interviewed for "Shame & Redemption" told me that when she was a child/teen, one of her parents would yell "You are a terrible person!" whenever she tried to put up personal boundaries or express who she was. She explained that her parent was threatened by her development of an independent identity. Unfortunately, she said, this had long-term personal and social consequences.

In this month of June, a month marked by celebrating diverse identities of all kinds, I think it is important to reflect on how many people (starting in childhood) are told - in one form or another and by various individuals or groups both in their family circles and beyond - that they are "terrible" because they differ from whatever hegemonic norm society says is the pinnacle of societal success. To me, differences are not a threat, but actually create life in abundance.

We can't stop other people from being jerks. But we can halt generational and societal trauma. We can give ourselves and others love, patience, and kindness.

To love is to be patient and kind to oneself and others. To be patient is to be kind and thus is a way of showing love. To be kind is to be patient and that is a form of love.
Love <=> Patience <=> Kindness