You don’t pick with a scab unless you want to leave a mark.

Scabs, a part of the body’s healing process on most wounds. Our bodies create a hard outer layer to protect the tender and vulnerable area until the wound is healed.

I surely never wanted any scars or marks but there is something so very tempting about picking at a scab. It’s the major sign of the healing process. A crusted covering,  protection from any further infection and debris, yet still susceptible to re-injuring. However, as the area heals the scab begins to rise and detach, eventually hanging on by a small section (usually in the center).

This is when the temptation emerges to pick at it. Pull it off or break off parts no longer attached (mostly because it annoyingly gets caught on things or it’s gross to look at it)?

If you’ve ever pulled off a scab instead of letting it fall off on it’s own, you know a few things can occur. Either the skin is still pink and tender or worse; the wound is not completely healed and snatching the scab off too soon, results in bleeding. If you were hard headed like me, you ended up with yet another scab because you pulled it off.

You don’t pick with a scab unless you want to leave a mark

My 2019 started with a 21-day detox. I decided at the end of 2018 to focus on my health.   I shared details with a few folks who responded negatively. I wasn’t discouraged, yet I knew it wouldn’t be easy. Previously, I’ve failed at detoxes.

Life shifts occur. Emotionally eat = detox ends.

Detoxing has felt like a scab I’ve either wanted to rip off or let the process of healing happen.

Any time I wanted to rip the scab off (stop the detox) I recalled why I started in the first place. I’ve felt emotions intensely, often feeling exposed and totally exhausted. Much like looking at a physical wound, this detox brought me face-to-face with mistakes I’d become skilled at ignoring and avoiding (bandaids). Projects I had not completed, yelled at me from piles on my desk. I couldn’t run to socialize over drinks and food. Left alone, I also had to confront my broken heart, and patterns of self-sabotage. I had nothing to distract me from facing why I hadn’t completed what I said was so important to me.

Detoxing allowed the healing of more than my physical health. I was also allowing the healing of emotional experiences. As much as I wanted to rush, I let the process happen.

Don’t pick the scab.

It’s okay to recognize the wounds of our hearts and spirits. As tempting as it is, these wounds may not heal when we pick the edges, trying to rush the process. It’s still raw and tender in the center, susceptible to being re-injured. Instead, allow the process of healing occur, keep the area lubricated with love and self-compassion and eventually the wound fades away, and hopefully, won’t leave a mark