“No one is healed in isolation.”
The full quote, “Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion.”
— Bell Hooks, All About Love, 1999
In the early 2000s, Bell Hooks spoke to an audience at the Boston Public Library. I was excited to meet Ms. Hooks and made plans to be front and center. I lived in Boston back then and knew this was a rare opportunity. I was in the library an hour or so before the event, but I missed the talk.
Unfortunately, a few of my friends and I had scheduled a meeting in another wing of the library before the speaking event and lost track of time. When we finally went to the auditorium, the room was to capacity. No additional bodies would be allowed inside, not even for a peek. Yes, I asked the security guard to take a peek.
I was disappointed in myself, disappointed in my friends, and just plain ol’ disappointed for not meeting Bell Hooks. As a young person, A’int I a Woman was a must-read. The book was and is a guide for understanding our existence, history, and struggles in this world.
Nothing can be more validating or comforting than reading or hearing a person’s life story and having it resonate with you. I did not meet Bell Hooks that day, yet she left behind stories and words that have helped many. Her body of work has undoubtedly been of benefit to me and others.
One of the reasons I write in general and on Medium is to bring our stories and words out of isolation. By doing this, we may no longer feel isolated and can then begin to heal.
Thank you for reading. See you soon.
Khadijah💜
