If you are anything like me, you try to be strong for everybody else. No matter what obstacles get thrown at us, we put on our smiles and help our friends and family with their issues.

Even though we will always put others needs before our own, it can be exhausting. While we are busy helping others, we neglect our own needs until everything becomes too much.

The truth is…We cannot do everything on our own. It is easy to act like everything is okay, but it is not. Life is not easy. Life is unpredictable. Things happen beyond our control.

We will never ask for help. Even though we know we should. As cliché as it sounds, we do not want to bother anybody else with the things we feel we should be able to handle on our own. But most of the time we secretly hope that somebody will look at us and realize we are not okay.

To everybody reading this, I know you are not okay either. We live in a society where the unrealistic norm is to try to do everything. Everybody tries to tuck away their problems and emotions. There is not enough time to deal with every personal issue when trying to balance everything else going on in life. However, ignoring your issues is only temporary.

We prefer to hide what we are dealing with and I do not understand why. We cry behind closed doors and shower curtains. When the reality is, so does everybody else. Maybe if we let people help from time to time the overwhelming breakdowns wouldn’t be as severe.

We ask each other “how are you doing?” but it is never as heartfelt as it needs to be. We often say we are good out of some false habit. But when we are ready, to be honest, the other person rarely sticks around to hear the answer.

No matter how bad things get. We are all strong enough to get through it. Tomorrow is a new day. Embrace the pains of today and prepare for the ones to come. There will always be things that test us, but in the end, we prove that we are stronger than any obstacle because we do have love and support.

Remember that nobody has to face the world alone. If you need help, ask. You may be surprised at the responses.

Smiles truly are contagious. A hug can go a long way. A conversation can mean the world to somebody who feels alone.