There’s a stigma in sharing our stories

LORI SMITH Artist/Vendor

Religion, a clean look. A clean house, the right politics and positive stories are what we want to feel and separate us from those we are afraid of becoming or being associated with — those others that do share those stories can’t hide them.

Sharing personal stories means we must feel safe or bold enough to do so. It is where good writers are born. It is where truth and progress can happen. If we are going to grow as communities, we can’t just focus on what looks good about it, but also on where the next steps come from. These are found in facing, examining and coping with what we are uncomfortable with.

Image control is an obsession. Control and obsession should be red flags for us. What is the fear that underlies these? We should consider this. Carl Jung posited that embracing our whole selves, the good, bad and ugly, helps us be healthier people and stronger communities. FDR said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

There are many messages we receive encouraging control as a methodology for our own selves, our families, our religion and spirituality, our communities and even governance itself. Overapplied, it has the opposite effect of what we seek. Health in all these dimensions suffer.

The truth will set you free, along with everyone else.