Criticism,

Painful at first blush,

Until you peel away the layers,

Exposing a vulnerable core,

Where some bit of truth lies,

The abrasion is only momentary,

Shallow and unremarkable,

Healing once embraced,

Allowing growth of mind and spirit,

Reinventing that which faltered,

Strengthening all that we are.

~~ D. R. DiFrancesco ~~