Wear Your Heartbreak On Your Sleeve

In a society where matters of the heart are hushed, here are two women who aren't afraid to talk about lost love. 

- Ritu Ailani

Heartbreak is a universal experience, yet we hold back from talking about it. Our only reference to it is in the movies, which isn't the best way to learn how to deal with the situation, considering that characters on screen often resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms for effect - falling into bad company, taking to alcohol or drugs, or thinking of ending it all. They propagate a victim mentality, not taking into account the strength, resolve and resilience it takes to survive the storm of grief.

When it comes to matters of (others') hearts, we live in ignorance. We don't know that our classmate who had walked late into college today had wept over a bitter break-up last night, or that our neighbour had moved cities to erase memories of a past relationship. We don't know that a coworker's promotion was fuelled by pent-up sadness or that our friend is turning down plans because she can't trust people anymore. If you think about it, so many people around us must be hurting, trying to heal their broken hearts. But, because everyone has their guard up, we find ourselves feeling alone in these experiences. In times like these, we must remind ourselves of this famous line by Leonard Cohen, fondly remembered as the Poet of Brokenness: "There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." Here are two women who wore the cracks in their heart like a tigress would her stripes.

REDIRECTING REJECTION