I've gotten a bit of flack lately for some of the content of my posts, and I'm not entirely sure why. It pains me to think that we have trained ourselves to stifle our thoughts and words, no matter how hard they may be to hear. In fact, one of my biggest regrets of my adult life is not saying everything I needed to say, when I needed to say it.
Of course, need is not to be confused with want. While I believe that, truly, few things should be left unsaid, it really only pertains to the things we need to say. However, those things we need to say often cause the most discomfort, often go unsaid out of fear or shame, and frequently pave the way for complacency and regret.
So I suppose this is what I need to say today.
Here are the three reasons why you shouldn't read this blog:
(1) It's honest. In fear of turning into a cliche, I'm not going to say, "You can't handle the truth," but to be blunt, some people simply can't. I do my best in this blog to speak truths only; whether those truths are manifested through my emotions or opinions, they still are truths to me. I have tried, wholeheartedly, to avoid judgments, and stick to my beliefs while writing.
(2) It's respectfully unfiltered. Even I look back at some of my posts and roll my eyes a bit. But that is simply who I was on that given day, at that given moment, when I sat down at my computer to make a statement. There's nothing that I'm holding back, and there is nothing that I am afraid to write about.
(3) It's shameless. In order to move through life, we need to release our shame, and by posting my experiences for anyone who cares, I've found a sense of closure, as well as some solace. It's nice to receive comments or Facebook messages knowing that others have experienced what I have. It's nice to have people who empathize. In fact, this whole process has been extremely therapeutic and has helped me to release a great deal of the shame I've been feeling for quite some time.
Writing helps me to be honest with myself, and having others read it simply makes it more real. It is good that it is real, because if it is real and tangible, I can work through it.
If you can't handle truthful and vulnerable blogs that forbid shame and welcome honesty, then I respect your decision not to read them.
Please respect my decision to write them.