When you cut yourself first you’ve got to stop the bleeding. Then assess how bad it is. Then decide if it needs a bandaid or stitches. Then allow it to heal. Sometimes ointment helps. Sometimes ice. Or pain medication.
As the cut heals the edges start to get crusty. Sometimes there’s dark blood visible. Sometimes the dead skin peels back and falls off. Others might even be able to see it. But eventually it will heal up as though it was never there in the first place. The only sign a thin barely white line on the surface.
Before things can heal they have to be ugly. But secretly I love this process. I love the way the dried crusty edges feel. I run my finger over them absentmindedly. The contours are so different. And over time they smooth and go back to normal.
Healing from whatever wound you have will be rough. But there’s also something wondrous in the process. In understanding why it can be so rough. Acknowledging that our bodies (and hearts and minds) are capable of such massive recovery. And that there is beauty waiting on the other side.
