This past week, I had a deep conversation with a friend about why I am always giving people my 110% when at the end of the day, it leaves me appearing tired and drained. I explained to him that that isn’t the case. Yes, I’m tired but I love doing that. I love being there for people, it makes me happy knowing that I changed someone’s life for the better.

In a sense, its like that starfish story. At least I made a difference to that starfish.

You don’t know what is going on in someone else’s life. It takes courage to go ask someone to talk, and another whole set of courage to sit down and tell them what’s wrong in your life. Because in our society today, we are programmed to say “I’m okay” instead of “No, I’m not okay. And here’s why”. So if by me sitting down and listening to people, whether that be 5 minutes or and hour, I will. Because they needed it and had that courage to ask for it. I want them to feel heard.

Not only does it take courage to ask someone for help, but it takes a different kind of courage to be yourself in a world that is asking everyone to be a mold. I admire those who are brave enough to stand up and be who they are, we need more people like them. We should celebrate them, instead of tearing them down for being able to do something we can’t.

I want people to know that they are heard, because I know what its like to constantly talk but never be heard. I want people to feel like they are always welcomed to be themselves, because I know what it’s like fighting the “mold”. All of this I would never wish on someone – even my worst enemy. That’s why I give each person my 110%, even if I’ll end up in bed exhausted. Because I know it was worth it.

This in short, is why I don’t tell people no when they ask me if I have time to talk. This is why I always make sure the people around me know I’m always here for them, no matter what time of day. If I cannot talk in person, we can always schedule or send me a novel and I’ll definitely get back to them when I can.

So if you’re reading this, we are friends. And as Friends always say “I’ll be there for you.”