When I was very young, on a warm spring day, I was on the back of my stepbrothers bike. As we were riding along, I mistakenly stuck my foot in the spokes of the bike. I had a terrible wound on my ankle for most of the spring. I still have a scar from that bike ride.
Healing from a wound like that takes time. You have to use the proper ointments, wound care, and protocols to prevent infection and promote healing. I remember the pain, but I remember the healing, too.
My mom has been gone for over a month now, and in the last week, I have found myself peeling back the packing around the wound of losing her. Time and patience has helped, and slowly, theres a buffer between the pain and the knowledge that I will be okay.
Healing from a wound and healing from the loss of a loved one could be considered the same type of protocol: apply care and caution, give yourself time to form a scab to lessen the pain, and continue to monitor how you feel.
With time you will learn to apply pressure and feel a new sense of strength. I suppose it’s true that time heals all wounds, but be careful with trying to rush into healing.
The pain is a sign that you’re surviving. The healing is a sign of growth.
