“I start to see that I surround myself with broken people; more broken than me. Ah, yes, let me count your cracks. Let's see, one hundred, two... yes, you'll do nicely. A cracked companion makes me look more whole, gives me something outside myself to care for. When I'm with whole, healed people I feel my own cracks, the shatters, the insanities of dislocation in myself.”
In this quote by Julie Gregory, she reflects on the idea of surrounding herself with broken people in order to feel more whole herself. By pointing out the cracks in others, she is able to distract herself from her own insecurities and flaws. This quote highlights the complex nature of human relationships and the way in which we sometimes seek out companionship that mirrors our own inner struggles. It speaks to the idea that being in the presence of others who are also broken can provide a sense of comfort and understanding.
In today's world where mental health awareness is increasing, Julie Gregory's words resonate deeply. The idea of surrounding oneself with those who are broken or struggling is a common occurrence, as many people find comfort and purpose in helping others. This quote highlights the concept of finding healing and wholeness through connection with others who may be going through similar struggles. It emphasizes the importance of empathy, compassion, and understanding in our relationships with others.
In this quote, Julie Gregory reflects on the idea of surrounding oneself with broken people as a way to feel more whole. The metaphor of counting the cracks in others as a way to make oneself feel better is a powerful image that conveys the complexities of relationships and human connection.
In Julie Gregory's quote, she reflects on surrounding herself with broken people to make herself feel more whole. Consider the following questions to delve deeper into this theme:
“As long as I'm between home and the clinic I do all right. But out in the real world, I feel like prey. I slink around and can feel people looking at me. I feel their eyes boring into me. I feel what they're thinking: Watch her, she could go off anytime. But within the walls of my farmhouse, I climb out of the protective shell, my arms slowly rise like a phoenix, and I dance, wail, fly around the room and then collapse, crying, in front of my mirrors. I start to see in the mirror what it is I really look like, instead of what I was trained from the womb to see. I do not write about it. I do not talk about it. I do not know what I am doing. But just like a baby bird, I am blinking once-sealed eyes and unfolding damp wings. I cannot articulate the past. A part of me knows it's there, lurking, just behind what I can acknowledge, but it is not within sight. And I am keeping it that way. ”
“I don’t see myself being special; I just see myself having more responsibilities than the next man. People look to me to do things for them, to have answers.”
“When I look in the fridge, I see groceries, but I don't see food. My stomach growls; but there is no appetite.Appetite and hunger are different. Appetite is the mental prompting that kicks the auto-response into drive so you actually reach out, take the food, put it in your mouth, chew, and swallow. I learned this in my first psychology course. Eating isn't just a physical need; it starts in the mind, generating hunger, which then should trigger the body to ingest food. I have no sparks between these plugs.”
“I zipped myself all the way into the sleeping bag of myself, not because I was hurt, and not because I had broken something, but because they were cracking up.”
“I never defended myself. Not once. I never said, "Excuse me? What gives you the right to insult and demean me?" I let them steal my dignity.”
“I can't be any more addicted to it than I already am,"Jamie said slowly, as though he'd rehearsed this, and then waiting for a cue Nick obviously had no intention of giving." Think about crack!" Jamie added, clearly struck by insperation. "Yes! It's like I'm a crack addict, and you're my friend the drug dealer who gives me crack for free, and I know you're just trying to be a good friend, but every time I think 'Wow, this crack might be a little bit of a problem for me,' you're there to say, 'Have some more delicious crack.' Am I making sense?" Nick stared."Hardly ever in your life.”