When I was five, My sister and I disobeyed my mom when she told us to stop playing on the barbed wire fence that separated our huge yard from grandpa’s cow pasture. Climbing up the fence post and jumping into the pasture seemed like such a good idea at the time. I had no clue that I would end that day with a battle scar that would remain with me forever.
On my last jump of disobedience, I stumbled and a barbed wire stuck into the side of my leg and ripped it all the way up to the top of my leg. Thirty-six stitches later, I wished I had obeyed my mom.
That wasn’t my first or last scar. When I was a toddler, my older brother was playing with the fire poker and somehow it caught me up under my chin. I still have the scar from the burn.
Since then, I’ve added a snow skiing scar and c-section scars to my collection of battle scars. Do age spots count as battle scars? I think so. I haven’t found anything to remove them, so I think they count.
What about battle scars of the ego? My ego’s been bruised too many times to count.
When I first started blogging, I remember submitting several photos to Food Gawker. (I was so naive) They only take the very best food photos and my first three attempts were flatly denied. At the time, my ego was crushed. Later, when they did accept a photo, I thought back to when I first submitted a photo and realized that I would have rejected it as well. I blushed. I did. It was bad!
What about Battle Scars of the Heart?
I’ve suffered these type battle scars as well. The seemingly simple act of raising kids will contribute many battle scars of the heart – letting go that first day of kindergarten, that first day of middle school, that first day of high school and that first day of college. The ultimate letting go is on their wedding day. Â As your child rides off into the sunset, you’re excited about their future, but a part of you aches for the little girl or boy that’s all grown up.
When mom passed away, my heart seemed to be shattered and it has taken a long time to mend. My heart melts when I talk to my dad on a daily basis and his loneliness drifts over the telephone wires. (Yes, I still have my landline phone).
What Doesn’t kill you Makes you Stronger
Battle scars are not a bad thing. My few age spots remind me of my once flawless complexion that has now been through some stuff – grief, the elements, and a whole lot of fun. I can Dermablend them when I’m out and about or embrace them while I’m working in the garden. They are a part of me.
That scar on my outer leg that required 36 stitches? It’s still there and reminds me that sometimes I have to pay the price of disobedience.
Ego scars keep me humble and wanting more – all at the same time.
Battle scars are like growing pains – whether we’re growing our business, growing spiritually or growing up. It’s who we are. And that’s fine with me.
Do you have any battle scars? What did you learn from them?
19 comments
Oh my goodness I bet that was painful! We definitely all carry battle scars of all different types, I think the best thing we can do is embrace them, they help tell our story.
Thanks for sharing your personal story! I’ve experienced so many bad and good things in my life..and I agree with you.. the scars just make me stronger, because I chose to stay strong!
Battle scars are sometimes are remembrance for roughing it out and pushing beyond your limit. It makes us stronger in the future.
I definitely agree that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I honestly think that rejection can be a blessing in disguise sometimes because it forces you to work harder and keep at it. In the beginning of my blogger career I definitely faced rejection but it caused me to work even harder and know I’m working with top brands and companies and couldn’t be happier.
I actually have a condition that makes my scars a lot worse than normal people, so I have some pretty intense “battle scars” from over the years. I have plenty of invisible ones on my ego too lol.
This post is so true about scars. I think I have encountered most of them. I once fell in a pit of fire and still have all the scars on my upper arms. Yes they do hurt whether it be physical or emotional. But there comes a point when we just have to move on. Thank you for your encouraging words.
Couldn’t agree with this post more. Scars only make you stronger not weaker!
Battle scars help to make us who we are ! I think its important to never loose site of what caused some of our battle scars too.
I have a few scars from over the years – growing up with no my concern for my own safety. They all have a story that I am happy to share.
I have battle scars, most are symbolic for sure. I do have one from when I was a kid. I got trying to help my sister in a fight.
I think we all have battle scares. I totally agree with how important they are. The are like a road map of my life.
Oh I love your post!!! I do have battle scars. A few of them! One the entire length of my back from a scoliosis surgery, and another one from a spinal fusion when I was five where they took a bone from my hip to fuse my neck. I also have C-section scars and freckle anytime I’m in the sun (which I hate!!) Thanks for writing this. I’m gonna try to embrace my scars more, I’m bad and tend to hide from them.
What a nice way of looking at things. You’re right, battle scars do make you stronger and they’re a good visual reminder of lessons learned. I too have quite a few battle scars. I even have a barbed wire scar. Those darn barbed wire fences!
There’s usually an interesting story behind scars, ones on the inside and the outside. They definitely make you stronger, embrace them!
Oh my gosh. That must have been terrible getting all those stitches. My biggest scars are from the 2 c sections I had.
Oh man I have tons of battle scars, ones you can and can’t see. I cherish everyone. They made me who I am today.
Our battle scars shows experience and how much we’ve been through in life. Along with are lessons learned that we’ll forever keep. I will never be afraid to show my battle scars.
I have too many battle scars to count but I know all of them taught me a lesson both good and bad
What an incredible post!! I have three very ugly scars across my back, the tall one is from a spinal fusion (stainless pin added), the side scars are from spinal cord stimulator implants. Titanium in my left ankle, my first broken bone, two weeks later I broke it again. I was in my late 40’s!! My heart has so many scars, from growing up to my sons growing up to losing my dad, wish I had called to tell him I loved him one more time. Losing my mom to dementia, buried her five years later. Lost my brother three months later. Our scars tell the stories of our lives, good and bad.