Sometimes, when Young Me cried, those words -- or other similar words -- were spoken by a family member who had a low tolerance for tears. "You're overreacting." I was a tender child, prone to tears, and the words sometimes stung more than the hurt that caused the crying in the first place. I still remember the tone of voice, if not the exact sentences, all these many years later.
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What is it about seeing someone else upset, that is so intolerable for some people? Weeping children are sent to their rooms; adults are "given space" or deliberately left, alone, so that they can "collect themselves". It is true that sometimes, individuals may in fact need a moment to gather their thoughts and emotions. Other times, though, what they really need is a person who will stand with them when they are momentarily lost.
I will be that person, for I know what it is to be sent to my room.
The sheltering tree
The quiet in the discord
The rock in the wild --
Draw me into you,
Keep me safe, and I will then
Fly, once more, with joy
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yes... yes... thank you
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