The Mercury – Tuesday
To Whom It May Concern: How to Love Your Backbone
A backbone is one of those “use it or lose it” things.
In order to love it you have to find it.
Some men and women have been filleted. This can be done swiftly, or painstakingly slowly by life, “love”, family, or by church.
If it was done some time ago its presence may be hard for you to fathom and locate.
But, complete filleting is possible with fish, but not humans. It’s in there. You just have to want to find it.
Second, you have to acknowledge its usefulness.
You have to see its purpose, its role in propelling you to face yourself and the world.
Third – you have to practice.
You have to show up, stand up, and speak up, even if it is in small ways about seemingly insignificant matters.
If you start with nonthreatening situations, perhaps where you have been a pushover in the past, you’ll get used to the feel of your backbone.
Once you begin to trust its usefulness you will like it more and more and begin to use it in more important situations like your intimate relationships, at work, with your parents, your children, or even, if you are a pastor, with your congregation.
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