The Handprints Inside Us by Afrah Bari

Each day I see the many ways in which we impact the people around us; and they, us. 

From when we feel compelled to tell them what we think, to us wanting them to voice their opinion.

We seek to not only affect them, but also their validation. We feel incomplete having not told them. We constantly forget the traces we leave on people, places, and things. We overlook how the words we utter without thought may infect the people we say them to. A seemingly light-hearted comment may hurt the other person deeply. We always underestimate the value our opinion may hold in someone’s eyes. We all have particular handprints inside us. 

Someone or someplace that has left its handprint on us, meaning they have influenced us so strongly that we carry that imprint with us throughout our lives. It’s impossible to remove the handprints knowing that they have shaped us into who we are today. Instead of being saddened and/or regretful towards our experiences, we should learn to be grateful to have had them.

They have been and always will be a huge part of us. We continually wish we could take the darkness we have inside us away; when in reality it makes us whole.

What are the handprints you choose to leave on people?

Each day I see the many ways in which we impact the people around us; and they, us. 

From when we feel compelled to tell them what we think, to us wanting them to voice their opinion.

We seek to not only affect them, but also their validation. We feel incomplete having not told them. We constantly forget the traces we leave on people, places, and things. We overlook how the words we utter without thought may infect the people we say them to. A seemingly light-hearted comment may hurt the other person deeply. We always underestimate the value our opinion may hold in someone’s eyes. We all have particular handprints inside us. 

Someone or someplace that has left its handprint on us, meaning they have influenced us so strongly that we carry that imprint with us throughout our lives. It’s impossible to remove the handprints knowing that they have shaped us into who we are today. Instead of being saddened and/or regretful towards our experiences, we should learn to be grateful to have had them.

They have been and always will be a huge part of us. We continually wish we could take the darkness we have inside us away; when in reality it makes us whole.

What are the handprints you choose to leave on people?

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Follow Afrah on Instagram @ab_.writes