The first cut is the deepest.

Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash

We all feel hurt and pain individually regarding matters of the heart or mind.

Some of us have the tools to help ease that pain bit by bit, whereas some choose to sit in that pain and allow it to take over, letting it infect all other areas in life, making that pain somewhat unbearable.

In actual physical pain, we also differ depending on each other's pain threshold.

A cut finger, be it from a kitchen knife, broken glass, or the sharp end of the tin lid of a can of beans.

The blood is there to see. We run it under the tap, clean it off before putting some cream and then plaster over it.

And in a few days, the cut will heal and disappear as if it had never happened.

But, should we not attend the cut, we take a risk the injury could become infected, which will prolong the pain of the healing of the wound and bring an even worse pain, leaving perhaps a scar as a reminder of the lack of treatment.

Similar to the pain we feel inflicted not by a knife or sharp instrument but by another human.

The pain is through relationships, friendships, family, and the working environment.

This pain may not be as noticeable as there is no visible blood to address, whereas using water or cream and plaster will sadly not help this pain is not as easy to heal.

But the tools we have learned to use and the choice to use them can and will help in the healing.

Our friends we lean on in times of need, the boundaries we put in place in friendships which have hurt us somehow.

The journals we write in, the self-care we choose, the conversations we have, and the language we use surrounding this pain are all ways to help heal, and the sooner we decide to heal, the less chance of a scar being left, always to remind us of this hurtful time. To allow us to live a more present feeling that each day brings.

These are the areas we can control.

Pain is pain, and no matter how small the wound is, it is essential to address it in the same way that anyone who has found a tiny splinter in their finger, even a small paper cut, will know of the pain they produce.

So the next time, we may find ourselves excusing somebodies behavior as "not that bad" or only something "small," the longer that behavior continues, it can and will leave lasting pain or worse, leaving a scar making it so hard to remove to allow for more healthy relationships in the future.

Becoming aware of these behaviors will take time. They may be dismissed often until we realize this cut will not heal without attention.

But once that awareness has been reached, we will form new values and stronger beliefs within ourselves to not allow those behaviors to happen again and believe finally that "it was a big deal."

I invite you to find your plasters and disinfectant and learn to protect those cuts and wounds. And allow them to mend them in time.

As always, thanks for reading.

Be kind to one another, and have a great week.

Marcus.