When I was a kid, I was very energetic and quite boyish. Every afternoon I would be out in the street with the other children. I would sometimes cry all the way home because I scraped my knees and elbows while playing patintero, taguan, melting candle, cops and robbers, Chinese garter and all the games that you could think of that kids nowadays haven't heard of. My mum would always make me feel better after my boohoos. She was my first step towards healing.
When we are physically harmed, we are always in a hurry to provide first-aid to ensure that the injury does not worsen before consulting a doctor.
When someone else is in physical discomfort, we become concerned immediately.
How about the internal pain? The ones we never see.
We have colleagues who show up for work seemingly agitated and impatient. We immediately judge them as rude, unprofessional and even incompetent — without knowing what's going on behind the scenes.
I heard a lot of people say that they had chosen to suppress their anguish. They let it alone and allowed it to gnaw at their souls, out of fear. They were afraid of being chastised, judged, and misunderstood.
This 2022, we shouldn’t let anybody live in fear anymore. Let us open our hearts and minds to serve as first-aid to those who are suffering from the inside. Be a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, and a comforting presence. Be an emotional first-aider; be the first step towards healing.
The journey towards healing is a whole process and may take time. We have to remember that we don't have to be alone. We can depend on one another and recover from every wound.
May we all heal from the wounds of the past. We all deserve to be emotionally well.
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