Writing is a great way to get to know ourselves
Emotional intimacy occurs when we see and are fully seen by another person. We yearn for this kind of intimacy — to know and be known, to understand and be understood, to accept and be accepted, to support and be supported.
And yet, it’s not possible to have this with another person until we have it with ourselves.
Most of us are total strangers to ourselves, having very little idea of what we really think and feel. Instead, we have vague sensations of stress that must be quelled, or anxiety that floats freely in and around us. Our mood drops, our agitation rises. But we push it aside, busily getting through our days: Get up and ready, get the family up and ready, get them to school, to work, to home, to dinner, to wherever, on the move constantly. Who has time to really think and feel?
If we somehow find the moment, we often can’t tolerate it. Enter the addictions, the compulsions, the distractions, the rumination, the criticisms, and complaints. Enter the pills, the pains, the projects — anything and everything that can stop us from thinking and feeling. At least until we try to fall asleep.
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