What’s a secret skill or ability you have or wish you had?
Secret skill? If I were to tell you, then it wouldn’t be a secret, would it?
But seriously, I think this would be an ability more than a skill, but it would be awesome to be able to heal people with a touch. Or maybe with breath, like John Coffey in The Green Mile.
Though, I would want to heal them of the hurt and trauma they’ve experienced so they can live healthier lives free from emotional pain. So much of our physical pain is linked to the emotional/spiritual suffering we’ve experienced!
Healing hurt and trauma is such an individual and internal process, though! Humans have an amazing ability to hide behind carefully crafted exterior façades. I imagine that means I would need to know people first, before I could effectively heal them. So really, I would possess two unique abilities in one.
And yes, I think I would want this skill (set) to be secret, or at least not widely known, because otherwise I would be overwhelmed by people expecting it of me, and I would prefer to share it as I choose. I would want to share it with those entrenched in their pain and shame – the physically and sexually abused, the addicted, those with disorders, people struggling with PTSD and chronic psychosis.
Maybe what I’m really saying is that I’d like to be an especially gifted and effective mental health counselor. I’m grateful for those who have devoted their lives to this area. Social workers, psychologists, therapists, mental health coaches, spiritual advisors, psychiatrists, and neuroscientists. They’re doing a good and greatly needed work!
Pinwheel in a Hurricane 
This a great one
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I’m glad you don’t want to rid the world of pain, but are specific in your wish.
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Yeah, I believe pain has purpose and can be instructive. When people get stuck in their pain, especially as a result of trauma, this brings on additional struggles that not only follow us, but become compounded and crippling.
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Exactly.
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What a wonderful skill you have chosen to have, David. I’m sure you would be very much in demand, given how many people in this world have gone through poor mental health, often caused by earlier trauma. I’m one of these people and would love someone to take the pain and nightmares of that trauma away from me. I agree that getting to know these people well would be essential before taking such action. I’m sure you’d make a great mental health counsellor, too.
Most practitioners in this field are very worthy and deserving of such accolades. But just occasionally, you meet one who causes more harm than good. I speak personally of a previous therapist I had, who, it turned out, needed me more than me needing her. She turned our [so-called] ‘professional’ relationship into a very unhealthy codependent relationship. Totally unacceptable. I saw her three times a week for eight years! During that time, I developed a drink and drug habit purely because I was being completely screwed up by this person. Anyway, enough about her; I’m over that now (I think), although the remaining anger I have towards her is proving difficult to let go of. I would definitely welcome your skill if it were to materialise. I think it’s a worthy skill set to hope for. Thanks for ‘listening.’
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Ellie, I’ve followed your blog for a while now and though your story is no longer “new” to me, reading your recounting of it is painful. This is not how things are meant to be. It’s sad that your counselor was not in a place to be of help but instead used you for her own personal perceived purposes. I understand why you choose to blog, to share in what feels like a safer space. And I pray you have some people, even if not “therapists”, who you can connect with on a regular basis and share your experiences in such a way that you feel heard, seen, known, and safe.
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Thank you for your concern, David. I appreciate that. Writing my blog is very cathartic for me as I write purely from my heart. I don’t have to be anyone other than who I truly am. I really appreciate all the wonderful friends I have made here at WordPress. Yes, it’s my safe space to share my feelings and deepest thoughts. Although I don’t share my blog with any of my friends or family, I do have a best friend I can talk to. She probably knows more about me than most of my family does. I have no new therapist yet (I’m still waiting on that one). On the whole, I’m content with my lot; it’s just that, sometimes, I read what someone has written, and it triggers off other thoughts for me. Please, don’t worry – I have a full and happy life outside of my blogging, too. Thank you so much for caring, David.
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