Trauma is not your fault. [period]

Take all the time you need for that to sink in.

Over the past several years, the following phrase/meme has made its rounds.

“Trauma is not your fault, but healing is your responsibility.”

There’s something about it that never sat well with me, and last night I jotted down a few of my thoughts.

My life changed one year ago today with a significant spiral fracture that landed me in the hospital for 24 days. The following is a mix of fragments I wrote at the time and reflections I’ve had over the past year as I’ve learned about myself, about trauma, and about the power of human connection.