I meet with about 30 veterans each week. They are a remarkable group, diverse in age, military experience, and current circumstances. Despite their differences, they share a common challenge: difficulty sharing their stories, which often leaves them feeling stuck, alone, and silent. Yet, when one veteran opens up, it sparks a ripple effect, encouraging others to share their experiences.
These conversations range from funny boot camp stories to the horrors of battle, struggles with suicide, job loss, addiction, marriage, and veteran's benefits. Sharing these burdens not only lightens the load for the speaker but also helps others feel understood and supported. It's true: a shared burden is halved, while one carried alone can feel overwhelming.
This group is a powerful reminder that we all carry burdens. Some are heavier and more damaging, while others are lighter but still significant. It's easy to put on a brave face and say, "I'm fine," but some burdens require a safe, confidential space to be shared and released.
Think of a traveler with an overpacked suitcase struggling to move forward. Life can feel like that when we cling to unresolved burdens. What's in your suitcase? For veterans, it might be military experiences, guilt, regret, or fear of failure. For others, it could be self-doubt, toxic relationships, or unmet goals. Identifying and unpacking these "items" is the first step toward lightening the load.
Everyone around us carries invisible baggage. A smile may mask deep pain, and silence can echo insecurity. Recognizing this shared humanity fosters compassion for ourselves and others. Like the veterans in my group, we can all learn to share the load and cut the burden in half.
I can't control the weight I begin with, but I can choose how to handle it. Keeping it bottled up only adds to the struggle, while sharing opens the door to hope and freedom.
How about you? Are you holding onto burdens from the past that weigh you down today?
Watch for the blind spots.
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