Imagine, if you will...
You are a young man who comes from the gutters. Out of nothingness, and all you have is your brain and innovative ideas. Even though life has been unfair to you, you aren’t bitter. In fact, being at the bottom of the pecking order is what keeps you fuelled to reach the furthest of heights. To those you go to school with and to the rest of the community (those who know you), you are delusional to think that only your intelligence will take you out of where many have tried to climb out.
Although you have an expanded worldview, the world you’re in is very limited. Eventually you get to a few steps to where you’ve always dreamed of going, shunning all the negatives and attempts at slowing you down. You do the right thing and honour your mother who, throughout her tussles with the physical abuse from your father, held strong to shield you from that experience. Fast-forward to a couple of years, you’ve met a beautiful woman and you’re genuinely invested in your relationship.
However, old foes have a way of dragging your previous into your today.
Your lady is abusive to you emotionally and physically. You can’t raise a hand to her even if you wanted to, because the triggers that come with the kicks and the “You ain't shit” slurs, have rendered you numb and immobile in most times. Who can you really tell that you’re suicidal when you’re constantly reminded that “You’re a man, men do not cry” or that “they do not break”?
Or maybe, let’s pretend you are a disabled child who is growing up in a relatives' house. Your parents are no more and your livelihood is dependent on the relatives. It gets to a point where they are tired of having to cater to your special needs every day. You are a disturbance to their normal. As the years go by, you can feel the gradual shift in spirits in the household. You are made to feel like you had a choice about how you would be born, like you chose disability out a variety of options in a game show. On top of the emotional and physical abuse at home, you are constantly pitied by everyone else in your community instead of being treated like a normal person.
Your inner voice screams while your outside voice isn’t as powerful. Who do you tell that you’d like to end it all, when at family gatherings all the relatives agree that you’re the villain & you’re just acting out?
I wonder how many of us are observant enough to others in society. With this, I wanted to highlight that there is so much we do not see or hear. One day, when the script is flipped and we’re able to see and hear people’s inner selves express their emotions, thoughts, and deepest fears, we’ll all be kicking ourselves in the butt for never paying attention.
I sure hope that we can take some time to step out of our own lives for a while and tune in to those around us.
Comments