The Antidote to Shame

I was five years old when the Stonewall uprising occurred in NYC in June of 1969.  I am 55 as I participate in the Stonewall 50 – WorldPride NYC 2019 celebrations.  In the span of 50 years, the world has profoundly changed a little at a time, drop by drop, each bead of water small in volume but collectively impactful.

Visibility was the vehicle that transformed shame and stigma into “Pride” –  a state of self-respect, affirmation and dignity.

We have come a long way.  There was an estimated four million people in attendance at WorldPride NYC 2019.  Millions of water drops collecting on the city streets, a rushing river of change moving us forward.

The antidote to shame is love and self-compassion.

Journal Reflections:  What’s hidden in your shadow and how does it make you feel? How can self-compassion bring light to the darkness?  How can self-acceptance become a practice?