The Thorn — Why Removing It Is Not the Same as Letting Go

Davy Jerončič
May 5, 2026
9:59 am
0 comments

Inspiration for this post

This reflection emerged during a conversation.

We were talking about emotional burdens — the ones we carry from different chapters of our lives. Old wounds. Unresolved experiences. Moments that quietly stayed with us.

At one point, my friend said something many people feel:

"I just wish I could put it all down. Wouldn’t it be so much easier if we could just… let it go?"

And yes — I understood exactly what she meant.

However, something important needed space here.

Because real letting go is not the same as simply putting something down.

The image that came to mind

Imagine a thorn.

Not a dramatic injury — just a small, almost unnoticeable thorn. The kind you get while walking through a field, brushing against something without realizing it.

At first, you might not feel it.

But gradually, it begins to hurt. A dull, persistent discomfort.

And the longer it stays, the more it irritates.

So naturally, the question becomes:

What do you do next?

What we often do instead

Instead of acting, we often start analyzing:

Why did this happen?
Who is responsible?
What was the purpose of this pain?

Although these questions may feel meaningful in the moment, they don’t actually solve the problem.

The thorn is still there.

And so is the pain.

The more useful question

The real shift happens when we move away from why — and begin asking:

Where does it hurt?
What can I learn from this pain?
How can I heal it?

This is where emotional healing truly begins.

Not in assigning blame — but in learning how to remove the thorn carefully, honestly, and with awareness.

What happens after

Once you learn how to remove a thorn, something changes.

First, you gain experience.

Then, you develop awareness.

And over time, you build resilience.

In addition, you begin to notice patterns.

Where do these “thorns” keep appearing?
Which environments, relationships, or habits leave you hurt?

As a result, you start making different choices.

Not from fear — but from wisdom.

What the thorn was really for

So, was the thorn pointless? Not at all.

In fact, it had a purpose — just not the one we usually assume. It wasn’t there to break you.

Rather, it was there to teach you.

Where you are still unprotected
What still needs your attention
How can you grow

And through that process, you develop personal growth and deeper self-awareness.

A gentle reminder

You don’t have to keep carrying what hurt you.

However, there is something essential to remember:

Before you let go, make sure you’ve removed the thorn.
Because if you simply put the burden down without processing it, it will likely return.

On the other hand: What is truly healed does not come back in the same way.

Final thought

Ultimately, it was never about asking who hurt you.

What truly matters is:

Where it hurts
How you heal it
And what you learn from it

Over time, you begin to recognize where “thorns” tend to grow.

And gradually, you become someone who moves through life — not without ever getting hurt — but with the awareness, strength, and tools to know what to do when it happens.

And that, quietly and consistently, is what real inner work and healing looks like.