Hiding (A Poem About Shame, Judgment, & Healing)

Put the mask on.
Force a smile.
Feel superior.
Judge and point.
You’re going to helllll!!

These all seem easier
than facing the reality of who we all are:
Flawed, imperfect, broken beings
who must be utterly honest in order to heal.
Because only honesty, only authenticity
only the complete courage of exposing all parts of us–
our light and our darkness,
our strengths and our weaknesses—
and cleansing those hidden areas,
leaving our hearts breathing, spacious, alight,
will bring us inner peace.
And it’s only when we find peace inside ourselves
that we will be able to embrace
all the others who are hiding,
and give them a hand, pull them up,
limping side by side towards eternity.

Photo by Adobe Stock/sumos