Open Letter Part 2
The Wounds We Hide
Some of us grew up being told we weren’t enough, scolded or beaten by those meant to protect us. We learned early that opening up leads to hurt. That safety is temporary. That when things are good, it’s only a matter of time before the rug gets ripped out.
So we stay guarded. We scan for danger even when nothing’s wrong. We don’t trust the joy, because joy has always been followed by pain.
This is what it’s like to live with invisible scars.
.The World Around Us
I’ve seen men laugh in videos, saying no one cares about them. They turn their pain into jokes, because they know no one is listening. But the jokes are cries for help. And those cries fall on deaf ears.
We forget that everyone—the paperboy, the clerk, the landscaper, the doctor—is human. Everyone is carrying something. Some carry more than others, but no one escapes pain.
If we built each other up half as much as we tear ourselves down, maybe the world would be lighter.
What We Need
We need kindness. Respect. Care. The things we teach children but forget to give one another as adults.
We need to remember: leaving the house might be someone’s victory. Your careless joke could undo all of it.
We need to be the reason someone stays one more day. To offer the love we wish we had. To remind each other that being human is messy, but none of us have to carry it alone.
In closing
There’s a saying: “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” Maybe that’s true. But I’ve learned that even when your cup feels empty, you can still help someone else hold theirs.
And sometimes, that’s enough to keep you both going.
Copyright © Jason Wall | Year Posted 2025
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