The Swaying Boots

I often come across articles of writing that make we want to hang my writing boots up on the hook to sway back and forth with honourable respect symbolising my humble admiration as I slowly bow my head and back away in awe. This piece that appeared in The New York Times by Julia Baird ‘Was It Cancer? Getting the Diagnosis’  is one of those articles.

Julia Baird is a journalist and an opinion writer and I really can’t express how much her article has spoken to bruised parts of my soul. The parts that feel like misunderstood discoloured fragments that now feel a sense of understanding and a sense of connection woven through the insightful words shared by a complete stranger.

Kelly Exeter from A Life Less Frantic (who is also a stunning writer) shared the link on her Facebook page introducing it as:

Stunning writing from Julia Baird (as always). I’ve read from so many people about how a cancer diagnosis just wipes away all those other things you thought were ‘worries’. Read this to the end because there is an amazing message waiting there.

And yes, there is an amazing message waiting there.

After reading Julia’s words somewhere in-between reaching for the tissues and unlacing my writing boots I tripped over a great big epiphany that smacked me right between the eyes in a manner even the Three Stooges themselves would have been proud of executing; hypothetical stars and all!

This theatrical scene playing out in my head grounded me back into my boots with a not so gentle thud reminding me of my purpose for sharing my own thoughts here on my blog in the first place.

I believe we all have a story… a story of our reflective past, a story of our hopes for the future and a story of our precious present moment.

Through the sharing of our stories I have faith that strength, resilience and hope lie within us all and are nurtured from knowing we are not alone.

The validation of my masked feelings found in the layers of others genuine truths has been a most powerful and welcomed gift of strength to be rivalled as I continue along my obstacled path.

I hope that by sharing pieces of my own story that you may find validating comfort in pieces of your own story.

So the next time you get caught up in the ‘Comparison Trap’ or the ‘I’m not good enough’ story or find yourself thinking ‘Who would want to hear anything I have to say?’ just stop; ask yourself what the end result may have been if the sharer of what has just touched you so profoundly had become buried under the same way of thinking? You wouldn’t have felt anything because the whole sharing experience would never have been created.

I hope you gift yourself five minutes to read Julia’s article and thank you Kelly for initially sharing the link on your page. My friend Emily from Have a laugh on me created a wonderful poster a while back and I think it’s quite fitting to share here in conclusion.

Till next time,

Sandra  Xx

Don’t stop sharing – you never know who might benefit from the gift of your vulnerability.