Vulnerability
We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness and affection. -Brené Brown
As far back as I can remember I was a relatively happy child. In grade school I was very popular, and most years, I was the fastest, strongest and most athletic kid in my class. I was almost always the captain, and if I wasn’t, I was always chosen first for teams. I genuinely felt worthy!
All of this dramatically changed when I entered middle school. During the summer break, it seemed as though most of the other kids grew six inches in height, had voice changes and almost all became faster, stronger and more athletic than I. Now, for the first time, I was on the other side of the fence. I was a twerp! Girls towered over me and made fun of my diminished height and often referred to me as Shrimp or Midget. And to make matters worse, this was the year that boys had to take showers together after gym class. Oh my God!
My puberty was about 18 months behind most of the other kids, and of the 20 boys in the class, there were only about three of us that didn’t have “hair down there.” This quickly became common knowledge, and eventually the girls even found out. Subsequently, they added Baldy to the list of demeaning names they used to describe me. For two miserable years I was bullied, harassed, demeaned and treated with complete and utter disdain!
This is the where, when, how and why behind my low self-worth and shame; sharing this with the world is vulnerability!
To me, vulnerability is being an open book and wearing my heart on my sleeve, sharing my deepest insecurities with others in an effort to help myself and others realize that we are not alone in our suffering. In a relationship, vulnerability lays the groundwork for intimacy. When one partner shares his or her insecurities, it often creates a safe space for the other partner to do the same.
In this book I am your partner, and I am sharing with you the most intimate details of my life in an effort to create a safe space for you to do the same. I hope you follow my lead.
As far back as I can remember I was a relatively happy child. In grade school I was very popular, and most years, I was the fastest, strongest and most athletic kid in my class. I was almost always the captain, and if I wasn’t, I was always chosen first for teams. I genuinely felt worthy!
All of this dramatically changed when I entered middle school. During the summer break, it seemed as though most of the other kids grew six inches in height, had voice changes and almost all became faster, stronger and more athletic than I. Now, for the first time, I was on the other side of the fence. I was a twerp! Girls towered over me and made fun of my diminished height and often referred to me as Shrimp or Midget. And to make matters worse, this was the year that boys had to take showers together after gym class. Oh my God!
My puberty was about 18 months behind most of the other kids, and of the 20 boys in the class, there were only about three of us that didn’t have “hair down there.” This quickly became common knowledge, and eventually the girls even found out. Subsequently, they added Baldy to the list of demeaning names they used to describe me. For two miserable years I was bullied, harassed, demeaned and treated with complete and utter disdain!
This is the where, when, how and why behind my low self-worth and shame; sharing this with the world is vulnerability!
To me, vulnerability is being an open book and wearing my heart on my sleeve, sharing my deepest insecurities with others in an effort to help myself and others realize that we are not alone in our suffering. In a relationship, vulnerability lays the groundwork for intimacy. When one partner shares his or her insecurities, it often creates a safe space for the other partner to do the same.
In this book I am your partner, and I am sharing with you the most intimate details of my life in an effort to create a safe space for you to do the same. I hope you follow my lead.
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