Crying Heals Heros

The first step to healing is to recognize that what you have experienced what has happened to you. Sounds tricky doesn't it. Our mind will heal in it's own time. That's why sometimes people who experience bad things, bad dreams, bad memories need to meet and talk with other people who have had the same or similar things happen in their lives.

When you first realize that it has happened to other guys you can still feel somewhat normal...but uniquely normal. War is hell. There is an emotional debriefing needed after most trauma. This is the sharing of the same experience. Strength - emotional, mental and spiritual strength can be derived. Each sharing allows the person who is sharing their story respect for themselves. Each sharing also gives the listener their self-respect. We all have a story. The Vets have had a traumatic story. We honour both them as individuals by listening and learning from their stories. Today we can use some of the principles of conflict resolution There's your story,my story...the "truth" in the middle, the rational facts and story lines of events. However, there's also the survival.

To survive, in traumatic events, we have to numb ourselves to our feelings. It gets us through. However, much later in life when we are often successful, laid back, etc. These numbed feelings start to defrost, to be healed. Crying is healing.

Confronting these issues, by talking, by writing our story in a journal, seeking counselling (sometimes all 3 at once) are all courageous acts. These are positive acts that are not based on pity and just surviving. They are the positive acts of a hero who is still striving to BE ALL THAT HE CAN BE! For me, everyone who has tasted fear and confronted their own death, can still be loving and tender is my hero.