If I do not tell my story; then it becomes my secret – which is never a good thing.
Because if my story becomes my secret; then I will have something to hide and there will be a danger in the waiting to be caught out.
And because I’m waiting to be caught out, my story – which is now my secret – will become my shame.
If I do not tell my story; then I maintain the stigma – which is never a good thing.
Because if I do not tell my story; then, in the absence of a narrative and without the presence of a person, the stigma remains unchallenged.
And because the stigma remains, unchallenged (if I do not tell my story) then the assumptions and the fears will persist.
If we do not tell our stories; then we subscribe to an illusion that there is an acceptable way of being – which is never a good thing.
Because if there is only one story; then it negates my story – and your story – and their stories –
And, in the silence, the one socially acceptable story becomes a truth.
If we do not share our stories; then we might not realise that my story is similar to your story – and might help his story – and is part of her story.
Because if we do not share our stories; they become our secrets and our shame –
Instead of an opportunity and a connection.
