02/26/2026
Who else feels exhausted from always feeling like you have to be the strong one?
That’s a loaded question, isn’t it?
For many years, I felt like I had to hide my hurt, pain, fear, anger… and sometimes anxiety.
How could I show what I was really feeling when I believed that if I fell apart, it might cause others to fall apart even more?
I had to be the strong one… because if I wasn’t, who would be?
Reflection:
Did I take away someone else’s opportunity for personal growth by always holding everything together?
Behind closed doors, I sometimes did fall apart.
I would have that deep cry and let it all out.
Then I’d open the door, wipe my tears, and step back into the role of being “the strong one” again.
And many times… it was so exhausting.
I would ask myself,
How can you keep doing this?
Why don’t you just fall apart and let someone else hold you for once?
But there were moments when I truly felt like no one would be there to catch me.
Like I was the only one I could trust to catch myself.
Over the years, I’ve learned to let certain people see me there.
To allow myself to not always be the strong one.
And I realized something important:
Showing your vulnerabilities does not make you weak.
In fact, allowing yourself to be seen in your softness takes incredible strength.
If this resonates with you, please have compassion for yourself.
Take your time.
Be vulnerable when it feels safe.
And most importantly… love yourself through it all.
With much love,
Shelley 🤍
