Empathy

“How can you still listen to his songs knowing how he hurt those people?”

“Because their lyrics are the diary of a man daring to be vulnerable and honest about his trauma, his shame and the emotional, uphill battle to overcome them, and I can relate to that.”

“But you’re condoning what he did by supporting his music.”

“I’m not condoning what he did. I’m hearing him, I’m seeing his efforts to make amends, and I’m being open to the possibility that he can break the cycle of familial trauma that he was born within. There’s a difference.”

Voice

“Stop saying these things. You’re stirring the pot.”

“But I’m being honest.”

“People don’t want you to be honest. They won’t like you if you’re honest.”

“If that’s the case, then they never truly liked me to begin with.”

“They don’t understand. You weren’t like this before. It’s like you woke up one day a different person.”

“No. I just finally woke up.”

Belief

“What are you?”

“I am.”

“No, I mean are you Buddhist? Christian?”

“I am.”

“But what do you believe?”

“That I am.”

Anxiety

“How did you get rid of your anxiety?”

“I didn’t.”

“But you seem better?”

“I feel better most days.”

“How?”

“I stopped trying to bury what hurt and started allowing it to coexist with me in a place of compassion.”