~ by kaka Lucas. 12/9/2022

This is an edited version of a story that I posted a few months ago, NEVER BE ASHAMED OF YOUR STORY. It keeps recurring and reaffirming my belief in my story. It is hard to stretch and make a move, it is painful to raise my head and give a smile. It is frustrating to think of it, but it is encouraging me to never give up. #mystory

I have a strong belief that we all have a story to tell; a story hidden in the safest parts of our hearts; stories no one had ever heard about. Only you, and You alone know about these stories. These stories I believe they build on each other and they are to be told and listened to and respected. These stories would have made you who you are today….they are the stair case to where you are and they can be the jumpstart for someone else’s life. Tell that story! Bring out the beauty hidden inside your heart.

We all have experiences in life that have left scars in our hearts. These stories may be disgusting, discouraging and even depressing depending on the angle you look at them from. But I also believe these stories have a beautiful lesson to them; a silver lining that is shining bright and beautiful.

I am always amazed by the Japanese art-form called Kintsugi. It is ceramic form of art that I read about in a book I love. I am also reading “Life is messy” by Matthew Kelly in which he reminds “Us”, the generation of disposable culture, a generation that is drowning in delusion that life is not messy.

In the Japanese culture, unlike ours, they do not dispose of vessels or bowls or cups when they are broken. The artist gathers up all the broken pieces and glues them back together. What amazed me in reading this story is how they glued them back together. As you would know, after a plate is broken, it would be hard to get all the pieces together. It would also be even harder to know which part goes where.

The Japanese mix gold with the glue and reattach the pieces together until the vessel returns to its original shape. It may not look exactly as it was, but the fact that it is back to its form makes it even more beautiful.

This is to remind “Us” that life is more than just being broken. It is so amazing how these people take their brokenness with pride. As Matthew Kelly states in his book, “They don’t try to hide the cracks. They own them, honor them, even accentuate them by making them golden. They celebrate the cracks as part of their story.” I believe they also do this by making the cracks visible.

This is a beautiful lesson for me and you, never to be ashamed of our story. No matter how the story is, no matter how it started or ended, tell it as it is, mark the cracks with gold glue, make it visible, honor them, accentuate them, make them golden and beautiful.

Own your story, be proud of it and step up. Just make sure you respect that story and teach others to do the same. Never shy away from your story. Never hide it. Tell it as it is.

YELLOW BRICK ROAD

“I cannot tell you why I exist, but I will tell you why I will continue to exist. This road is mine to walk and for that I am grateful, some may have an easier road, but for mine I am thankful. I carry this load placed upon me with my head high, for I carry no shame in who I am or where I’ve been. I walk my yellow brick road and for that I am grateful.” Email: romainalewis@gmail.com or Instagram @mr_rlewis