So I managed to get a painful and quite odd sunburn on Saturday. I managed to not get burnt on my forearms at all and only mildly on my legs but my upper arms and shoulders got it bad. I got burnt moderately on my upper back and even on my feet somehow, to the extent that my left foot was swollen.
I took precautions to avoid a burn. I applied waterproof SPF 45 sunscreen twice (once before I left and then when I had been in the water for a bit) but still managed to end up with the burn.
This whole thing got me thinking about the term "burn" in general and specifically in regards to relationships. Many times we want deep relationships but we fear hurt that can come if there is some disappointment in that relationship. So we put on our sunscreen, something to keep out the worst of any pain that might come our way. Sometimes this works, sometimes it does not. And those times that it does not make us cautious. We don't trust as easily, at least for a while. We may avoid doing things that we once enjoyed, like going out in the sun (but if you know me at all you know of my disdain for that burning ball of gas we call Sol). And the pain is with us for a while and may prevent us from doing things that we need to do (due to my burn I am in slight pain if I move my arms above my head right now). Even things that connect us to other people are affected (giving hugs causes discomfort for me right now).
But this too shall pass. My skin will heal soon enough. And after a time we let our guard down again, ready to trust once more. Will we get burnt again? Probably. But it's better than sitting alone in the dark.
Comments (4)
You were able to use burn and dark in the same entry! Which is your user name!! [in case you had forgot]. I could have rubbed some aloe on your arms! =)
I like your last paragraph.
I love you.
@ishkid4 -
"You were able to use burn and dark in the same entry!"
- That was unintentional but I guess it ended up cool.
"I could have rubbed some aloe on your arms! =)"
- Oh in that case I'm sure I'll still be burnt in a week. It may look healed but it will be really tender. Maybe you will get a sunburn and I can rub aloe on your arms! Brown chicken brown cow!
"I like your last paragraph."
-Thanks. I think it came out well.
"I love you"
-I love you too
is it really better than being alone in the dark?
@Anjel - I'm speaking metaphorically here. Given the literal option to sit alone in the dark or get sunburned I would choose being in the dark. And oftentimes I feel like being alone is better than being hurt. But I would like to think that it's worth the potential pain than to be numb to the world.