Thoughts on Paragraph 175

So in Paragraph 175, one of the older gay men that had been in the camps for over eight years said that when he returned home he didn't talk about his experience with anyone. His family didn't bring it up, and he didn't mention it. Why? Shame. And then he said "It's all about patiently carrying one's burden." So here he was, fifty years later, talking about his experience as a German homosexual in the concentration camps. Patience. Burdens. I often feel like I am heavy carrying burdens, but when you put everything in perspective, I have nothing the lift, schlep, drag, or wheel along behind me. I am lucky. When he said this though, I immediately felt like I too often carry burdens around with me. I have a tough time of letting go of things--I tend to play things out over and over in my head. Why does one do this? I often envy people who can simply move on and detach themselves from experierences. I think that is how one survives...moves on in life...by letting go of one's past, one is able to open up and let new experiences in. I need to do this more...let go and make room for the new (whether it be emotions, people, tschotskes, etc.).