#Healing Journey

Turning Scars Into Flags of Hard-Won Progress

When scars turn outward, they become signals that others can rally around—mentors sharing relapse stories, activists naming harms, artists embossing biography into form. Morrison’s Nobel Lecture (1993) declares, “We do language. That may be the measure of our lives,” reminding us that articulation is action: naming a wound is the first hoist of the flag. In practice, this looks like testimony, commemoration, and mentorship that transform solitary pain into communal navigation. The flag does not erase the storm; it orients ships through it. And so the final movement of the metaphor is civic: personal marks become public measures of possibility. By holding the past visibly and speaking it forward, we verify our distance traveled—and we chart a route for those who have yet to make the crossing. [...]

The Quiet Bravery Required for Healing

As we recognize courage in ourselves, it becomes easier to see it in others. This shared acknowledgment can strengthen bonds within families and communities, creating environments where healing is nurtured collectively. In this light, Amos’s affirmation is both an invitation and a reassurance: no matter how hidden our bravery seems, it is there, enabling us all to embark on and support the journey of healing. [...]