Pushed, pulled, stretched...

This is how college is directing me right now. Not gently, not by choice. There is no light.

Pushed, pulled, stretched...

This is how life is directing me right now. Not holding my hand, not providing a safety net. There is no light.

Pushed, pulled, stretched...

This is how my heart strings feel right now. No relief, no kind words, no soothing moments.

Why is it that it is always go, go, go in our culture, our lifestyles? We criticize those who can lay on the couch for a whole day, being barely productive. Are we jealous? Frankly, yes. The world wants us to believe that there is no break, no pause for a day. When bad things or bad days happen, how many of us keep going? How many of us throw ourselves back into reality and “suck it up”? Don’t show your emotions, don’t let them get to you, don’t let them see you weak. Bottle everything up and then an eruption happens. People are judgmental, wondering why you are “acting up”, “not being yourself”. But the thing is, we are not understanding. We don’t care about emotion because it makes us uncomfortable. We care about hiding ourselves. We care about not letting everyone see what is truly happening on the inside.

But what if we let them in?

Do you understand, how things would change? No more awkward “Do I pat her back or walk away”? There would be less of the degrading stares, less of the pity. Why don’t we start being the shoulder to cry on? Why don’t we start supporting others, as in everyone?

Sometimes the best advice comes from a stranger, a different shoulder to cry on. There is something to be said about the connection made when you open yourself up to others. You allow people to come close, the break down walls, to bring them into your life, letting them see what you see. The amount of discovery you make on your own is unparalleled to what you will find with someone else.

So, what will happen when you let someone in?

You will feel vulnerable, you will feel naked, you will have moments when you want to push away. From one independent person to another, don’t. Don’t give up on a good thing. This person, this steady shoulder and great listener, is choosing to be around. As much as you need them, they need you as well. They need you to want them. There is no reason for you to be passive towards someone who wants to be with you, who is giving you their time. Don’t feel as they are wasting it on you, you matter, you matter so much, in so many ways. And here, here is a person willingly providing you the confirmation of how valuable you are.

So, when the light is hard to see, go after it. Be willing to let someone in on the mental overload that is happening. Be willing to push, pull, stretch yourself, towards others, not only for yourself but also for others.