Day 357 (11 Months, 20 days)
Inching closer to my 1-year anniversary (
) of being alcohol-free and am in deep appreciation for all the awareness and insights that have been revealed to me since beginning this journey.
One of my most recent revelations has been the healing power of vulnerability. The understanding of vulnerability that had been presented to me throughout my life was one of weakness and was to be avoided, especially as a man and even more so as a Black man.
Growing up in Philly there was an unspoken understanding that the vulnerable were preyed upon so it was to be avoided at all costs. Any illustrations of having a tendency to being vulnerable and you were deemed to be weak or useless. This narrative is a destructive one.
What I’ve come to appreciate in my recovery journey is that there’s an incredible healing quality that can come with the notion of vulnerability. I don’t understand the mechanics of it, per se, but it’s been felt as I engage spaces, like here for example, where being vulnerable is part of the basis of our shares.
In fact, I now regard my capacity to be vulnerable as one of my current super-powers as healing is one of my top priorities and vulnerability is serving as a significant catalyst for it.
How often in our day to day do we allow ourselves to present ourselves to the world with our imperfections? How many of us regularly take off our masks/avatars and convey to others the depths of our challenges, pains, and suffering?
To me, this is where we can connect to the core of who we truly are and create opportunities to heal. This is where that unquantifiable magic begins to emerge and some of our tensions, stresses, and negative emotions can subside.
I’m not saying it is the only dynamic necessary for healing but it can absolutely be a key ingredient for healing, at least it has been for me.
Look forward to seeing you on the Zoom calls and wishing us all an increased willingness and capacity to be vulnerable . . . Until soon
