Own Your Scars

“I wish I could say something classy and inspirational, but that just wouldn’t be our style. Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory… lasts forever.” -Shane Falco, The Replacements
Ever see someone with an awesome scar? Ever ask about it and of course, it came from an awesome story? Me too. As people, we notice imperfections. We notice things out of place: blemishes, mistakes, cuts, bruises, a messy room, an untidy car. Scars are a reminder of a past pain. We carry them long after the pain has subsided. Our bodies change and are never the same because of our scars.
However, this chapter is not about physical scars. Those are on the surface and can be explained in a quick story, hopefully filled with action, adventure, and a great ending. Scars that exist on the inside come from deeper cuts. We carry them secretly like a weight holding us down. Everyone has emotional scars: baggage they carry from their past failures, disappointments, hurts, and regrets.
It’s natural to hide these scars away. They are more ugly, raw, and sometimes unattractive. We are embarrassed to open up and share our scars with each other. We feel others will judge us from our past failures, mistakes, regrets, emotions, challenges, and bad memories. A lot of people want to sweep these memories under the rug. It’s the safe thing to do.
You know what is truly liberating? Being proud of your inner scars, too. They have made you who you are: a special, unique, and one of a kind human being. Our inner scars shape us, mold us, and develop us into who were are today; for better or worse. Life is about connecting with people in a real way and being open to new experiences. I cannot count how many times I have opened up to people about a certain event, situation, or hurt I have experienced. It only made me feel better and deepened my connection with that person.
Mistakes happen. Accept them. Laugh at yourself for making one. Everyone fails at something. Learn from it and move on. Worry and regret is a waste of time and energy. It never makes the situation better. The past is just that: the past. It does not matter today. What if, instead of being embarrassed of our inner scars, we owned them and wore them like a badge of honor? What if we shared our inner scars to others as if they came from some amazing, crazy story? Because, honestly they did. And, you survived!
Above all, Eat, Move, and Improve!