Scars

Last week was Health Week! We had five seminars relating to our health and to healthy relationships. We were blessed to have lovely women role models in the forms of an aesthetician, an OB/GYN, a nutritionist, a RAVE (Relief Against a Violent Encounter) leader, and a behavior specialist to teach drug/alcohol resistance.

At the beginning of the week we learned about taking care of our skin. It made me think about my own scarred skin. I also felt more self conscious for a few days because it was on my mind. By the end of the week we were learning about sexual assault, staying sexually safe and dating violence. Then I was thinking about my old scars. The ones you can't see. And talking to "my girls" about their scars was even more heart breaking than thinking about my own. Because I've survived mine. Theirs are still new. And they will survive. (You will! You have people that love you and want to be your circles of protection!)

All of this got me thinking about scars. Our scars are beauty. They tell a story about our past and something that has happened to us that we have overcome. They remind us that we have gotten better because of it. Some of our scars are on the outside where people can see them and some of our scars are held in our hearts. They all matter, they are a part of us. They've taught us things and helped us grow.

I need to remember that.