An antique vase shatters into many pieces. You take it to be repaired. When you pick it up, it looks good. You can barely see the cracks and tiny missing pieces.
Back up on the mantle it goes to be admired from afar. No one but you knows or can tell that this vase was once in pieces. On the outside, it's still a beautiful vase. But when you take it down to examine it, you can see the thin lines. You can see where the vase was broken and forced back together with glue.
Something traumatic or highly stressful happens in your life. It shatters and rocks your world. Over time, you come to terms with what's happened. You may go see a therapist to work through the situation and, mostly, you are able to move on with life. But those closest to you know what's happened. They know, can see, and feel the cracks you're trying to conceal. However, to everyone else, you're knocking life out of the park and you are a picture of perfection.
Every single person you meet is, has been, or will be broken down in some way. This can be childhood trauma, a death, divorce, financial issue or physical illness. Society teaches us to continue posting happy photos on social media and conceal the hardships you're facing. Families may be taught to only discuss the good and sweep the ugly under the carpet, ignoring brewing resentments and keep on smiling. Husbands and wives head off to work, bragging about their weekend ahead when really, trouble envelops their relationship.
Every single person has cracks. Sealed back up with their own glue whether that's time, inner work or avoidance. For some, their glue is alcohol, food, drugs or other additions. This helps make the cracks less noticeable and bearable.
How you repair, how you present yourself, and how you move forward after your world has shattered dictates how your inner 'vase' will hold up for years and decades to come.
You can remain shattered, toss the bits and pieces away and move forward as a shell of who you once were, or you can get the best glue out there and start the repair process.
Get back to who you once were despite the imperfections. See the cracks as beauty marks proving your growth and perseverance.