Scars: A Gay Native American's Journey From Self Hatred to Self Love- INTRODUCTION

Scar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Scars are areas of fibrous tissue that replace normal skin (or other tissue) after injury. A scar results from the biologic process of wound repair in the skin and other tissues of the body. Thus, scarring is a natural part of the healing process. With the exception of very minor lesions, every wound (e.g. after accident, disease, or surgery) results in some degree of scarring.

Scar tissue is not identical to the tissue which it replaces and is usually of inferior functional quality. For example, scars in the skin are less resistant to ultraviolet radiation, and sweat glands and hair follicles do not grow back within scar tissue. A myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, causes scar formation in the heart muscle which leads to loss of muscular power and possibly heart failure. However, there are some tissues (e.g. bone) which can heal without any structural or functional deterioration, and in fact bone tissue may be structurally stronger after a break.

The word scar was derived from the Greek word eschara, meaning place of fire (fireplace).

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Some scars are self-inflicted, others left behind from accident, negligence, or misfortune. Some are emotional, some mental, some spiritual. Some are so small they're clandestine, some are so large they could never be ignored- everybody knows what happened. Weaker scars fade, some stay forever as a reminder of the past; ultimately, they are a symbol of strength. For years I hid from the truth, choosing silence, pain, and self-hatred. In the end, the truth won, as it always does.

We make our own choices, and every choice has a price. This is a true story about the darker side of life, but it is also a story of goodness and triumph.

It seems like the beginning would be a good place to start...