Vulnerability

One Thursday, while I was watching a play called The Vagina Monologues, I received a phone call that didn't make me happy at all.

Since the play was finished anyway after that call, I went to stay with a group of people I knew. I had to wait a while since I was riding back to Makati with my teacher (who was part of the play) .

"Hello, everyone!" I greeted and sat on one of the chairs available there.

I didn't realize that I had such a sad (more of frustrated) disposition plastered on my face until a friend pointed it out to me.

"What's wrong?" He asked.
My gaze drifted towards him, my mind still hung up on the phone conversation I had.  "Hmm? What do you mean?"
"Your eyes."
I was caught off guard. "What do you mean?"
"You're not okay."
"How can you tell?" I replied in bewilderment.
"Your eyes kind of..." and then he made a gesture by pulling down the outer corner of his eyes. "Are you okay?"

For some reason, a feeling of relief washes over me. I tell him what happened and he replies with kind words and an assuring hug.

And what have I learned from this?

Vulnerability is not a bad thing sometimes. It's good for you and for the person you show your vulnerability to.

As you present yourself in your brokenness, you open yourself to healing.

And at the same moment, you are giving the person seeing you in that state an opportunity to show compassion.

And there is this beautiful exchange of love.

You are healed while that person grows in compassion.

I know a number of people who prefer masking their weaknesses. I'm not saying that it's bad, but it's not good either. It's even proven scientifically that bottling up your emotions can cause some dreadful physical manifestations.

Give yourself a break and remove that mask from your face. Allow love to heal you through a comforting embrace, a friend's treat to ice cream to melt the sadness away, or even just a listening ear.

If you're feeling down right now, know that at this moment I ask you to open yourself to my embrace. :)  I love you. :)