I read this today

Posted On October 20, 2005

And it really hit home.
Enjoy.

“When we allow ourselves to be witnessed by another, we cannot help but be transformed by the experience. Whether we are sharing a personal experience, standing in front of friends to celebrate a special occasion, or expressing our unbridled joy or sorrow in front of a loved one, we are allowing ourselves to be seen and experienced in a very intimate way. Not only are we baring ourselves to someone else, but we are allowing that person to hold a very specific kind of space with us so this powerful act can take place. To be witnessed is to let ourselves be seen as we truly are in that moment.”

I sometimes shudder at the prospect of being truly witnessed. Be it in class, in a friendship, in my marriage, or in any other situation that matters to me. I then realize (hopefully), that I want to witness others in this way, in part, to validate my own experiences. I think that the concept of being witnessed is a way to connect with life in a deeper way. If we hide for too long, we become detached. I think to myself “No one could possibly understand…” or a variation of that sentiment. To hide is to lose something really precious. I think. There are times to be alone and quiet, but this is a profound thing to read today.

Peace.

Oh, and I ordered tye-dye checks today. That was fun. Yippee!