One of the most valuable gifts in my life was from my mom. She taught us to never look away from pain. The lesson was simple and clear: Don’t look away. Don’t look down. Don’t pretend not to see hurt. Look people in the eye. Even when their pain is overwhelming. And when you’re hurting and in pain, find the people who can look you in the eye. We need to know we’re not alone—especially when we’re hurting.
