Pariah | Muse

Every version of yourself is worthy of love, especially the unhealed version. Yes- even romantic love. 

It’s such a cop out, telling others to stop looking for love in their unhealed states. It implies that brokenness is an unacceptable thing to hold space for, consequently turning love into an exclusive reward when it should be our natural state. That’s fear talking, and anyone that’s afraid to embrace a being that’s not yet whole, isn’t truly healed themselves. (And that’s ok. Just stop telling people to heal beforehand. You first.) 

But then, are any of us really, truly healed? We’re all forever growing, hurting and mending ourselves at the end of it all. Have we no grace in the way of others like us anymore? 

That being said, there’s a stark difference between holding space for a person who is broken yet open to healing, and embracing a person who’s… well, not. One fulfills you, teaches you… the other drains you. This is where your (surely well-developed) discernment skills will come in handy.

Remember, we talked about that?

Anyhow, it’s a common misconception that there’s nothing to be gained from embracing brokenness because, more often than not, these are our opportunities to broaden our range of perspective; to grow into healers… our best selves. When we see outside of ourselves and really work to understand struggles we’ve never been through, love forms. Fear wanes. Acceptance blooms. Empathy strengthens. 

IMO, empathy is love’s most powerful sibling. You have to understand someone in order to love and accept them properly. You cannot thoroughly love someone without accepting their reality instead of the picture you’ve painted in your head. And in the end, as I’ve mentioned, we’re all broken to a certain extent… Do none of us deserve empathy? Do none of us deserve to be seen?

 And when we really get down to it, we all love the broken things, every day. We find value in that chipped teapot that grandma used, there’s sentiment in that tattered napkin from your first date with your partner, and though your loved one struggles with their own demons… you love them anyway. 

And, well… have you ever healed without love’s presence? Does your value lessen, because of your pain? 

Didn’t think so.