Scar Stories

“You know what happens to scar tissue. It’s the strongest part of your skin.” Michael Mantell

I recently choose to take on a project not for a class, not as a job but simply because I felt enough meaning in doing it. I love a challenge afterall, and this would be no exception so I dug right in. I was excited. I was expanding my resources, learning new things, coming up with creative elements and bursting with ideas. Sure I still had plenty of obstacles in my way before it could be completed—but even that thrilled me.

And then it happened… I shared ideas of this project with others and the response was less than favorable.

How could I possible do such a project on something that was “an embarrassing time for the industry” or “pure stupidity”?

I was sitting in front of my laptop reading their words of disbelief that I would want to relive those days—frustrated that they just didn’t understand.

Their replies were tied up in emotions of politics and public relations from decades gone by, if only they saw it the way I did.

I had to take my eyes off the screen—I couldn’t take it anymore. After scanning the room a few times I found my vision focused in on the delicate arc shaped scar on my right wrist… a battle wound from putting up fence at about age 14.

The more I stared at that scar the more I began to realize it was much like my situation. While that scar represents a painful experience in my life—it’s still a part of me today. It’s my past and I wouldn’t be the same without it. Just as I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the setbacks, mistakes and failures that I have endured up until this point.

We each have our own scars… our own history.  As does every company, organization, industry and even every country.

David C. McCullough said “History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.”

Instead of covering up our scars we should accept the fact that they are there and not forget that behind every scar is a story of how it came to be, and a lesson to be learned.