Matured too soon
For all the adults who matured too soon as a child, I see you. Trauma, poverty, or simply neglectful parents took away your youth. A time in life that you never got to have or cherish. The ability to be oblivious to all things wrong in the world. Instead of being protected or saved, you were the one protecting and saving. My heart cries out for us. My spirit prays for us. As an adult, I realized that where I see myself slacking is due to the lack of care from those who were supposed to teach me. No matter how I got here, this new responsibility falls on me. Always. Even if there are no apologies or accountability from the ones who hurt me or you. And as an adult, it is our responsibility to teach ourselves and heal ourselves. It feels like trying to untangle balled-up barbwire. It's baby steps and things take time, yes, but the world feels like it's running out of time. Why is it that we can feel like we are so far behind in life? Healing is a journey that requires us to time travel. We must go back in time to confront, accept, and forgive what happened, no matter how wrong? What if even after we forgive, it still hurts? That is where I find conflict. We are 24 years old and have already faced so much. Is it going to take another 24 to combat it all? Maturing too soon is having the skills to survive but what about live life? Love? Care about ourselves in a way that helps us prosper and not just be. I could say more but the words have not found me yet. To be continued... J.D.H
