My Little Secret

"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.”

-Kahil Gibran

This is my tattoo.

Yup, I have a tattoo on my right shoulder blade. I got it shortly after my divorce. It was such a time of sadness. It was the death of a lot of dreams, and I can honestly say that my heart broke. It was not the first time Life beat me up but it certainly was the most violent.

So I decided to get a tattoo-a visual scar of a soul injury.

I chose a flower because well, even flowers grow in the mud and I knew that this experience would make me stronger and more beautiful when I finally healed.

It has been a few years, and as you can see, my tattoo has faded . The lines have started to blur a bit and it definitely does not look like it once did. Bobby said that he would support me and pay for it to get touched up if I want, but I don't think so. You wouldn't cut yourself open again so your scars would stay new.

Truth be told, half the time I forget I even have it.

I have healed. I have moved on. I am a better person for it and I have gained something ever so priceless:empathy.

I think the most Christ-like words we have are, "I understand." There is power in those two little words and I can say them about more than one thing. I am stronger. I am more beautiful. And while I do not think I will get a tattoo every time something bad happens, I don't regret the experience.

It is just proof that I can survive and wounds do close.

“There is something beautiful about all scars of whatever nature. A scar means the hurt is over, the wound is closed and healed, done with.”

-Harry Crews