I remember one time, when I was 6 years old, I was having a really rough day. It was recess, and no one would play with me (again), and I was feeling really sad about it. So I sat on top of one of the big tires by myself, thinking and probably looking as sad as I felt. A teacher came over and asked if I was OK. "Yeah, I'm OK," I said, I guess because I figured that's what she wanted to hear, or because I didn't want to get into it, or for whatever other reason. So she walked away.
Of course, I wasn't OK. I felt like the loneliest kid in the entire world, and I wanted someone to help make me feel better. I was the exact opposite of OK. But I couldn't tell the truth. I couldn't reach out and say, "No, I'm feeling awful and I don't know how to feel better and would you please help me?" So she walked away and, when I was already feeling so low I thought my heart would break into a million pieces, she walked away and I felt even worse.
I couldn't tell the truth then, when I was 6, and I still have a hard time telling it now.
Posted by thevieve at April 11, 2006 4:06 PM