kenyatta:

femsplain:

“Telling stories is how we explain the world to one another, and back to ourselves.“

Read more of The Telling

Even if you haven’t been through something as unsettling as watching your father begin to transition into a rightful female identity, or coming to terms with a parent’s lifelong addiction issues, everyone knows the relief of sharing something long-guarded. It’s impossible to form lasting bonds with other human beings without communicating deep things about yourself to one another — in fact, it’s the primary way we bond. By sharing these experiences on the Internet, those of us who have been through immense trauma or distress have the ability to connect with others all over the world who have been through the same thing. The countless emails, messages, DMs, texts and other technological forms of communication I received after publishing my Vice piece sustained me when no one in my immediate IRL community seemed to care. They signaled that I wasn’t alone. They affirmed my decision to tell my story. They turned a “first person” essay into a piece of writing that buoyed an entire community. This is the therapeutic power of telling a story. It can save lives.

Published On: December 31st, 2015Tags: ,