By Min JI, Women’s Writing Program

What made you so sad?
What made you so mad?
Is it something I said 
Is it something I did (and keep doing)
That resurfaced a deep wound 
That never healed
From your childhood?

Was your dad never on your side?
Did you feel alone against the world
Without the grounding
Of someone
Always
Having your back?

Did they make you feel
Not enough…
Less than…
(Maybe your father’s childhood wound?)

Did they prioritize achievement and acceptance from others
Over taking care of you  
(Maybe your mother’s childhood wound?)

Did your father’s softness
Make you mad 
Did your parents preoccupation with others 
Make you sad
Did them not being home with you
Make you feel unloved 
Did their moments of disappointments 
Make you insecure 
Constantly chasing what’s missing 
Missing the already fullness of You today?

Here’s a crazy thought

Maybe I’m in your life 
In my softness 
In my preoccupation with others 
In my need to be alone (away from you)
In my moments of disappointments (I’m sorry)

Not to heal you
Not to be perfect for you 
But to trigger you 
And hold up a mirror
For you to
See. You. Now.
In a completely different context 
vs. the lonely little boy that once was 

Thank him and love him 
For protecting you back then
Then you can release him
And start living your fullest life
In the fullness of You today

As you’ve known 
(And finally, I know too)

I am just as broken as you 
And you trigger me
Then hold up a mirror
So that I can
See. Me. Now.
In a different context 
vs. the scared little girl that once was 

I thank her and love her
For protecting me back then
Now I can release her
And start living my fullest life
In the fullness of Me today

Who would have thought 
That God brought us together
To resurface
Our deepest and most painful wounds 

So that we can 
Understand 
Ourselves 
And each other 
Better than anyone else
In this world