As the founder of ZIMETRA International Magazine, I've always been interested in exploring the intersection of trauma, healing, and joy through the personal stories of others. But it wasn't until my own life was turned upside down that I truly began to understand the power of these experiences.
For years, I believed that the small negative things in my life were trauma. But it wasn't until my father suffered a stroke due to low blood sugar in October of 2022 that I realized what real trauma was. My family was suddenly buried under debt, responsibilities, and the weight of my father's condition. And I was suddenly thrust into the role of a caregiver, a position I was not prepared for.
As I navigated my father's illness, I realized that trauma shape shifts our identities. It makes us into a whole different person from who we were before. And being a caregiver hurt me and my family more than we thought it would. The effort it took to care for my father was overwhelming, and it left us all physically and emotionally drained.
But through it all, I found solace in writing. Documenting my woes and my experiences of trauma was the best gift I could give myself to reduce my misery. And through the poems I wrote about my experience, I found a way to connect with my own emotions and the emotions of others going through similar experiences.
As harsh as every day was, the act of writing brought a sense of calm and clarity to my life. It allowed me to process my feelings of sadness, anger, and hopelessness, and to find moments of joy in the simple act of putting pen to paper.
Of course, healing is a process that takes time. But I know that when I look back on this period of my life, I will see it as a turning point. A time when I was forced to confront my own limitations and to find new sources of strength within myself. And I hope that my own personal reflections can offer comfort and inspiration to others who are going through their own struggles with trauma, healing, and joy.
Here's a poem I wrote on Trauma.
