I'm not sure if it's the introduction of social media or just the way that people in my generation seem to think, but the trend that no one seems to have emotions seems to be the new norm. Girls are afraid to double text or text first at all, and guys like to act as though they never get sad or upset. Why?

Why do we think it's "cool" to pretend like we aren't as interested in people as we actually are or to pretend that our negative emotions never seem to reach the surface? I understand the risk that comes with making yourself vulnerable in these ways, but that doesn't mean that the safe way should be the norm.

We wouldn't want to look back on this time and regret the chances that we were too scared to take. A lot can happen when we step outside of our comfort zone, and that's where we'll find the most growth.

So, in a world where there are no second chances, we should be open to making ourselves vulnerable. We should tell the people we love just how much they mean to us. We should be seeking help when we need it. If we feel strongly about something, we should be open about it instead of trying to fit in with society.

We shouldn't be hiding our emotions and pretending not to care. We are human beings with a need and desire for connection with others, and we shouldn't be ashamed to make that known. The more we put into our relationships with others, the more we'll get out of them, and we cannot do that unless we make ourselves at least a little bit uncomfortable.