Bathroom Confessions Receive a Moving Response

Have you ever read a story that touches you but breaks your heart at the same time?

That is how the story about the “letter in the bathroom” has impacted me.

Earlier this week, I read a story about a washroom at the University of Western Ontario that was the home of many sad stories. On these walls, women wrote about dealing with the death of a parent, having eating disorders….and even being raped. The fact that these girls may have felt that the only place they could share their pain was on this wall simply breaks my heart. Having to deal with that type of pain, and feeling there is no one to turn to is so sad that it is beyond explanation.

It’s easy to become fenced in by pain.

Last week, the girls who wrote on this wall received an answer. Someone left a letter that responded to these girls.

A student took a photo of the letter and shared it on a social media site with the subject line, “In a girls’ bathroom stall at my university, girls have written about some of their most horrifying life experiences. This week, someone replied” (you can see the letter and the post here).

The author of the letter admits in some cases she can’t relate (“To the girl who was raped: You are so strong. I cannot fathom the pain you have gone through”). She provides kind words (“To the girl with the Eating disorder: I promise you, although I don’t know you, you are beautiful”) and reveals on ability to sympathize and empathize.

Her letter ends with these words,
“To all of you (including those I did not mention, and those who have not yet written)
-You are worthy
-You are strong
-You are brave
-You are loved
-somebody cares.”

In a time, with so much crime and horror being reported every day, it is really easy to become cynical about humankind. When I read this letter, however, it reminded me that there are many wonderful and caring people who want to help others. It is people like this woman who me want to become a better person.

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