Our deepest wounds often shape us as much as our greatest joys. The pain we carry—and the ways we learn to move through it—can define who we become. We asked community members from a broad array of industries to reflect on their defining wounds and have shared the responses below.
Cindy Luquin
One of the defining wounds of my life was learning to quiet my voice. Growing up in environments where harmony was valued over honesty—and witnessing domestic violence—I learned early on that speaking up could lead to danger, conflict, or disappointment. So I held my thoughts, feelings, and needs inside. Over time, that silence became heavy—it separated me from my own power. Read More>>
321 Dance
I believe good and bad things happen for a reason. When something bad happens to me, I try to learn from it and believe that time heals wounds. This mindset helps me keep growing and moving forward in life. I ignore the people who make fun of me and just do what I want to do. Read More>>
Desiree Goode-Green, MS, CNS, LDN
One of the deepest wounds of my life was losing my thyroid and feeling like I lost myself with it. No one prepares you for what it means to live without a major gland, especially as a Black woman navigating a system that often overlooks our pain. I felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, exhausted, and invisible. Read More>>
