One of the toughest aspects of communal life is being vulnerable, especially with those in a different stage of life. Why? Because we’re not always tracking together, we’re not always able to understand each other’s story to a point of empathy and the respect which yields confidentiality and all-around emotional safety. 

So when I share something negative about myself, I have to be ready for it to be thrown back at me by someone who doesn’t realize the pain that that action causes. 

I’m never ready. It hurts. It cuts deep.

I wonder how many times I’ve thrown pain back into someone else’s face. 

I’m sorry. Forgive me.