Over the past fifteen or more years, I have listened to hundreds of people (in fact, probably more than a
thousand) talk about their
worst secrets.
A lot of these are childhood traumas, involving incest, alcoholism, domestic violence, drug abuse, poverty, mental illness, felonies, political oppression, manslaughter, pedophilia, and desertion or betrayal of loved ones.
What is so humbling about this is that a lot of these folks who have been so deeply traumatized look just fine, thank you.. Often, they are accomplished, popular, good-looking, poised, or affluent. Often, they have perfect-looking significant others, children, and homes.
And I still look at individuals I've just met, and think, "He (or she) has it all together." Call it invincible ignorance on my part.