Can you think of the moments that have had a severe impact on your mental health?
This recurring question always sticks out like a sore thumb whenever I visit my therapist. It feels heavy, and I never know how to answer it. My mind would scatter, not knowing where to pinpoint my pain.
Recently, after my mother’s cataract surgery, her first comment upon seeing me was, “You have so many black dots now,” referring to the several tiny moles on my face. Somehow, moments like these and her seemingly innocuous remarks get me thinking about the tumultuous times we shared when her unprocessed trauma, insecurities, and suppressed desires spilled onto me.
It propelled me to introspect on the things we say to each other, our rigid preconceived notions, and how we as women have been handed down an unwritten rule book that we must adhere to, to please others.
I began asking my mother questions about herself. We were both trying to navigate through the difficult conversations, unearthing the things that we never speak of out loud. This work explores
a journey of self-reflection, of untangling, understanding rage, bitterness, and healing.
a journey of self-reflection, of untangling, understanding rage, bitterness, and healing.
