Growing up, I used to hate my scar on my right leg. I would try to hide it with my other leg. I fell through a sliding glass door when I was about three years old. I always thought my scar from this incident looked like a track runner jumping over a hurdle. I used to run hurdles in high school, so maybe that’s where I got that idea. My scar could look like a Y or a funny mustache. Whatever I thought it looked like didn’t matter as much as how it made me feel. I didn’t like it because it wasn’t supposed to be there. Now, this is a visible skin scar that I used to not like. But how many of us walk around with hidden internal scars on our hearts or minds that we wished weren’t there? What scars do you hide behind?
What are scars?
The word scar came can be traced to the Greek word “eskhara” (in French “escharre”). The term “scar” was first used in English in the 14th century. Sorry if that is boring, but I think it’s pretty cool. One definition of a scar is “a fault or blemish resulting from some former condition, wound, sore or burn. This scar tissue lacks the characteristics of the normal uninjured skin.” Basically, your skin is changed forever. It will never go back to the “uninjured” state.
Scars are physical, but we have all experienced events in our lives that have changed us forever. We may never go back to our “uninjured” state, but this doesn’t mean that we can’t find a way to live a complete, happy, and fulfilled life.
How can we heal from scars?
I have scars from my childhood due to the lack of support in my home and some physical and emotional abuse. I will never forget the events that happened to me as a child, but I couldn’t live the fulfilled, positive, productive, and happy life that I have now if it wasn’t for my ability to forgive and make choices for a better future. Here are four tips that helped me heal from the scars I was hiding behind. I hope if you are hiding behind any scars, these tips may help you move forward in life.
- Forgive. You will feel a weight lifted off you if you forgive whoever gave you your hidden scars. You may have to forgive yourself for your choices.
- Make the best choices for your future. You are in charge of your future, not your past. There is no excuse why you can’t be everything you dreamed of.
- Surround yourself with positive people who care about you. Positive people who care about you can help you walk through your healing process.
- Spirituality. I’ve always believed in a God who loved me more than anyone else could. A God who knew I was special even if I didn’t feel special. This gave me hope. You may not believe in God, but maybe you embrace nature or the universe. Does nature or the universe give you hope? In times of despair when we are receiving scars, we have to have hope, or it’s hard to heal.
Do you have any advice on healing from hidden scars?
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! I will be camping with my daughter at a church function. It will be nice to be surrounded by nature 🌾again. I’m not looking forward to sleeping in a tent. Sorry, my tent lovers! I love my bed too much. 😬 I may not repond to comments quickly because I will have no reception! I’ve been slow to respond to comments this week because of my car situation, but things are getting better.
And P.S., I’m fine with my scar on my leg. It is part of me, and I’m okay with that! Toddler battle wound.
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I can learn from my daughter because she, at least now, loves having/getting scars. I truly believe writing has been my best outlet for diminishing my scars. I also think honesty when having conversations with others really helps me release the burdens they bear and allows others to open up and share similar troubles. As far as camping, have fun and enjoy the simplicity of the outdoors! The only time I can’t sleep well is camping in a tent; I too prefer the comfort of my bed! ~Anne
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Ha ha. I’m not alone then. Your daughter is amazing! Good for her for being just fine with scars! I agree that honesty in conversations is very important. Thank you for your input. Have a wonderful day, Anne!
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You too ❤️
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Nice post. Yes, forgiveness moves us forward.
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Thank you. I appreciate your comment. It absolutely does.
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I love this so much x we all have things we need to forgive yourselves for. This is really helpful thank you x
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Thank you. ❤️
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Nice article. Thanks for sharing the love. I have a scar similar to what you’ve described in your post. It’s on the back of my calf. When I was young I was standing in front of our space heater and my leg went back and I received a burn on my leg that resembles XOXOXO, in about 4 rows, but my friends started calling me tracks. Anywho, thats my scar and it has a stort behind it, just like any scar, inside or out of our bodies.
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XOXOXO! Interesting. You have to make the best of it, right??? Thanks for stopping by, Camilla!
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Not actual XO, but its the closet to track marks and typing I could get.
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I understand. It has a story that’s for sure.
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Beautiful post! Scars leave physical and psychological traces on and in us but we can move past them with help. I have my share of scars that I was able to move pass with the help of all of the above along with TIME. Healing is a process and a crucial element to it is time. Thanks for sharing. Hope you relax and have lots of fun this weekend. 🙂
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Yes! Excellent point. Time is huge, and we have to allow ourselves that. I hope you have a great weekend as well, Cherylene!
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Thank you! 🙂
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A beautiful post! Living in the present moment has helped me the best to heal from the emotional scars.
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Yes. Living in the present. Great approach! Thank you.
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Great post! Happy 4th! Enjoy the camping. I love the outdoors – That’s one of the main reasons for my relocation from NYC to SoCal. 🌞😎
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Oh, yeah! You the weather is much better in SoCal for camping! Thank you! You have a wonderful 4th as well, Kevin!
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I used to hide behind my scars but not anymore. Scars always tell a story whether it be bad or good. We just have to find the light in every story. 🙂
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Yes! Well said. I love it. Thank you, Alifya.
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Absolutely love this! Every bit of it is true! My advice for healing scars is to learn who you are in God, through Christ Jesus. The Word says that we are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made and it also says so many other great things about who we are! Please go to my blog yourgodlywords.com and look for my post, From The Pages of My Journal: A Powerful Affirmation! It is an affirmation about who we are in God and it ties in perfectly with your post! Thanks so much for this awesome post! Have a great weekend!
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Thank you for such a wonderful and insightful comment. I will definitely check out your post!
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This is all great advice as usual Ipuna. The important thing is that humans are incredibly resilient and we can recover from most scars, if we’re willing.
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You hit the nail on the head! “If we’re willing!” Thank you for your comment. Have a wonderful weekend.
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I’ve come to a place of greater acceptance of my scars, but it does take time and you’ve given some really helpful advice. I especially love point no.2, it’s very inspiring – great post!
Caz x
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Thank you. ❤️
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Great tips Ipuna,
scars are here to remind us on life lessons.
I agree with you.Forgiveness is the most important for treatment of scars on our souls.And we should learn how to forgive, otherwise, our soul will be poisoned. We can forgive, we can forget, but we can not forget that emotions which was occurred at the time of the scarring . “God will not look you over for medals degrees or diplomas, but for scars.”Elbert Hubbard
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I love that quote! I’ve never heard it before. Love your comment. Thank you.
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Beautiful post. I agree Forgiveness is the big factor. Holding on to the past ends up weighing you down and usually the person or event that caused the pain moves on long ago-yet you are burdened. Forgiveness frees you to move on and pursue happiness
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Yes! We are hurting ourselves by not forgiving. Thank you for your lovely comment.
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A lovely post, Ipuna. We all have scars, some worse than others. Your attitude is great.
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Thank you, Robbie!
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