What it is like to be a cracked plate
ANNA'S STORY
I've always likened myself to a piece of aged porcelain, beautifully crafted yet lined with spider-web cracks almost invisible to the eye. My name is Anna, and the tapestry of my life is interwoven with strands of sorrow and hardship, so tightly bound that it's become part of my very essence.
I remember how the early morning sun would find its way through the thin curtains, casting a warm glow on the simple room I called my sanctuary. I would start each day with a silent mantra, "Put me down gently, for I am a cracked plate." It was a plea to the universe, a quiet recognition of my own fragility.
My hands, though steady, betrayed the toil of relentless physical labor from jobs that demanded everything and gave back so little. They were the kind of jobs that society needed but never valued: the cleaning of spills and messes others left behind, the long hours on the factory floor, the thankless shifts at diners where the clang of dishes was my constant companion. Each day was a battle, not against the work itself, but against the feeling of invisibility that it brought with it.
The cracks in my plate began to show early. Loss first visited me when I was young, taking my parents and leaving me with a void no amount of time could fill. Then came the loss of dreams, as I tucked away my hopes to face the pressing needs of survival. My body, once resilient, began to echo the fatigue of my spirit, with aches and pains that whispered of years of strain and neglect.
Society's harshness was like a careless waiter who stacks dishes too hastily, indifferent to the delicate nature of the porcelain. I have been scolded for my slowness, frowned upon for my weariness, and dismissed for my silent suffering. Yet, in this journey, I've also discovered the depth of my own strength, the kind that comes from knowing that even a cracked plate can still hold a feast.
For those who know someone like me, I ask for your gentleness. Realize that a person who carries the weight of a cracked plate is still capable of love, of giving, and of contributing to this vast, complex tapestry of life. We do not ask for pity, but for the simple act of recognition. Handle us with care, not because we are broken, but because we are valuable. Remember that the finest china is the one that has been cherished, protected, and appreciated.
And to my fellow cracked plates, I say this: Our cracks do not define us; they refine us. They are the marks of our battles, the signs of our resilience. We are beautiful, not despite our imperfections, but because of them. We are the survivors, the fighters, the quiet warriors. So, carry your cracks with pride, for they are the evidence of your courage in a world that is not always kind.
ANNA'S JOURNEY OF BEING A CRACKED PLATE
In the quiet town of Wisteria, there lived a woman named Anna who, to the world, appeared as radiant as the dawn. Yet, beneath her warm smile lay an intricate map of invisible fractures, a network of hurts and fears so carefully concealed that she might as well have been a cracked plate, fine porcelain painted over with a veneer of normalcy.Anna's day would begin like any other's, but as she navigated through the routine of life, each interaction, each demand felt like a heavy object placed precariously upon her already burdened form. She was acutely aware of the fragility within, of the need for gentle handling, in a world that often forgot the delicacy of the human spirit. The famous quote "Put me down gently, for I am a cracked plate," resonated with her deeply; it was a silent plea she carried in her heart, hoping those around her could understand her silent struggles.
Her cracks were not born overnight. They were the culmination of years of unspoken disappointments, of love given without return, of dreams quietly folded away like old letters in the attic. She moved through life with the grace of a ballerina dancing on a tightrope, every step measured, every smile practiced. Anna's friends often marveled at her resilience, not knowing that what they saw was a façade held together by the sheer force of will.
For those like Anna, the world can feel like a relentless storm, and finding shelter is crucial. Resources such as counseling services, support groups, and helplines can be lighthouses in the tempest. Books on personal growth and resilience, like "The Road Less Traveled" by M. Scott Peck, or "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor E. Frankl, offer wisdom and companionship. Mindfulness and meditation apps, like Headspace or Calm, provide a space for inner peace and self-reflection. Such resources are ointments to the soul, helping to bind the cracks just enough to keep the plate from shattering.
RE "The Road Less Traveled" by M. Scott Peck. This book comes with a warning about the author. Please read this reveal about the man behind the book. He turns out to be a man who is not some perfected being. Gosh! Golly! Imagine that.
Another powerful resource to turn to are these two links:
For those who know a person who is essentially a cracked plate, the greatest gift is empathy and the willingness to listen without the need to fix. To be present, to handle with care, to avoid adding to the weight they carry. It's about understanding that sometimes the cracks can't be mended, but they can be respected. It is in the act of gentle acceptance that healing finds its way, seeping into the fissures, quietly strengthening the fragile.
Anna, like many, continues her dance, a quiet ballet on the stage of life. To the world, she remains unbroken, but to those who look closely, she is a mosaic of survival, a testament to the strength it takes to carry on when you're a cracked plate in a stack of sturdy dishes. Her story is a reminder that even the fractured can carry light, and even the most delicate can endure, holding within them a beauty only visible to those who truly care to see.
WARNING!
This ending to Anna's story comes with a stark warning to my fellow cracked plates.
Not all of us come through with such a cherry testament to the unbreakable will of the human spirit.
No. Not at all.
Some of us end up cracking up completely. Broken. Into pieces that cannot be glued back together.
Not every cracked plate is put down gently on the table of life. And so that plate ends up in separate pieces. Unfixable. And often slipping through the cracks.
(I can't help working the crack, cracking, cracked word-play...it cracks me up.)
ADAM'S STORY
I am Adam, and the fractures of my life run deep, hidden beneath the surface of a stoic exterior.
My hands have known the roughness of bricks and the sting of cold steel; they've been stained by oils and soiled by dirt in the underbelly of a world that seldom sees the sun. Jobs that break the body and spirit have been my lot, a relentless march through time where each paycheck is a battle won, but the war... the war rages on.
The hardships began as ripples but grew into waves, crashing down upon me with the force of a tempest. I've been the victim of deceit, my trust exploited by those I believed were partners on my journey. Money, the hard-earned currency of my sweat and blood, slipped through my fingers, stolen by the smooth talk of conmen and the false promises of employers with no conscience.
Even the pillars of justice, which stand tall and proud, have cast shadows of disappointment over me. I've seen the inside of a courtroom, been on the receiving end of a system that favors the gavel over the truth. Police sirens have been the alarm bells of a society quick to judge, slow to understand.
Yet, despite the blows, I carry on. Not because I am unbreakable, but because I am resilient. I've learned that life does not always handle you with care, but that does not mean you are undeserving of it. I've come to understand that every setback, every betrayal, and every injustice, while they may mar me, do not reduce my worth.
To those who know a person like me, I ask this: recognize the fragility that lies beneath the surface. Understand that the phrase "I am a cracked plate" is not an admission of defeat, but a declaration of my humanity. It's a request for patience, for empathy, for that extra moment of consideration before words are spoken or actions are taken.
We, the cracked plates of the world, do not ask for you to fix us; we only ask that you recognize our cracks and handle us with the same care you would give to something precious and irreplaceable. We have weathered storms and will weather more, but we do so with the knowledge that in the eyes of those who truly see us, our cracks are not just breaks; they are part of the unique pattern that makes up who we are.
And if you are like me, carrying the weight of invisible scars, remember this: our value is not diminished by the cracks we bear. In fact, they are testament to our endurance, to our capacity to face life's harshness and still stand tall. We are more than the sum of our fractures; we are works of art, worthy of gentle hands and soft landings.
ADAM, THE CRACKED PLATE
(Adam slipped through his own cracks. He is basically invisible to those who float in a bubble. Adam can be Anyman, that man who cleans your plates and sweeps your floors. He might be an ex-con...or not. Sometimes Adam squandered opportunities that came his way. Maybe you know Adam. Maybe Adam is you.)
Adam's story began in the heart of an old industrial town, where the sky was often smeared with the gray of factory smoke, and the ground vibrated with the ceaseless toil of machinery.
His broken family came from roots entwined in the unforgiving life of agriculture. Forced from the land, his family made its way to the Big City. And there the crap jobs waited for his father and mother. Like many before them, the loss of being tied to the land caused a force of tensions to find the weakest points of character and exploit them.
No excuses of course for what happened next. His father began to drink more and more alcohol. And the bad grew inside this weakness. His father went out one day to get a pack of smokes and just never returned.
And so Adam was just a young lad when this happened. And his mother was left to raise four young kids in the urban context. So sad --- too bad.
Years later we find Adam, his hands calloused, his back bent from years of labor in thankless jobs that seemed to drain more than just his sweat.
Each day for Adam was like walking through a minefield of personal tragedies, each step threatening to reopen the scars of his past. He lost his younger sister to illness when he was just a boy, a wound that never quite healed. His mother, a bastion of strength, passed away after years of battling with her own demons, leaving Adam to fend for himself in a world that seemed to grow colder with each passing year.
The jobs he took were ones that people often turned their noses up at - the kind that were essential but invisible. From the scalding kitchens of diners to the cacophony of construction sites, Adam's work was physically grueling, the kind that made you age before your time. People around him were often harsh, quick to criticize, slow to praise. The world had little patience for the tired lines that etched his face or the silent way he carried his burdens.
"I am a cracked plate," Adam would say in his later years, a self-reflection of the cumulative fractures in his spirit. "So please take care to put me down gently." It was his way of communicating the fragility that life's hardships had instilled in him, the vulnerability that he had learned to live with. He did not ask for much - just a bit of tenderness, a touch of kindness, an ounce of understanding.
Adam is dead and gone. But his story is carried on by many others. The times have changed, that's true...but the basics are the same.
For those who encounter a person like Adam, it's crucial to remember that behind every furrowed brow and weary eye, there may lie a story of silent struggle. To be a friend to someone who is, in essence, a cracked plate is to practice the art of compassion. It's to understand that their rough edges are not to push you away, but are instead signs of a life that has been lived intensely, of battles fought valiantly, even if they don't bear the traditional marks of victory.
One must learn to listen to the unspoken words, to hear the plea for gentleness amidst the bravado, to recognize the need for care in the stiffened spine. It's about offering support without smothering, about giving space without isolating. Actions as simple as a patient ear, a shared meal, or a task taken off their heavy shoulders can be like glue holding together the fragmented pieces of their being.
As Adam's twilight years approached, those around him learned to appreciate the intricate pattern of his life's cracks, understanding that these were not flaws, but marks of resilience. They learned that in handling him gently, they too became more human, more compassionate, more connected to the shared experience of suffering and survival.
Adam's legacy would not be in the visible accomplishments of his life, but in the invisible impact he had on those who took the time to care, to see beyond the surface, to recognize the beauty and strength in his fragility. He was a reminder that even the most cracked among us are worthy of gentleness, and that in acknowledging each other's brokenness, we find our own capacity for healing.
SOME RESOURCES FOR YOU
For someone like Adam who identifies with the metaphor of a cracked plate, carrying the weight of personal suffering, and for those who know someone in a similar situation, there are several resources available that can offer support and understanding:
 |
| Get the book on Amazon |
1. **National Institutes of Health (NIH) Emotional Wellness Toolkit**: This toolkit provides strategies for managing stress and adapting to change and difficult times, emphasizing the importance of emotional wellness in maintaining mental health and relationships【22†source】.
2. **Healthline’s Guide on Emotional Support**: This guide offers practical tips and strategies for providing emotional support, including how to listen effectively and provide physical affection without minimizing the person’s feelings【23†source】.
3. **HelpGuide.org**: This website provides information on finding a therapist, explaining the roles of different types of mental health professionals, which can be crucial in helping someone heal from emotional scars and trauma【24†source】.
4. **Verywell Mind**: Offers insights into emotional healing, encouraging individuals to allow themselves to feel their emotions fully as a part of the healing process, and notes that the intensity of an emotion may only last for a brief period【25†source】.
5. **JED Foundation**: Focuses on coping with emotional trauma, suggesting techniques such as deep breathing exercises and grounding exercises that focus on the five senses to help relax the brain and cope with stress【26†source】.
Here are two links that will take you to stuff that you can do right now that really helps, a lot.
No comments:
Post a Comment