People often tell survivors,

“You’re so strong.”

What they don’t see…

is the performance.

I became very good at smiling.

Very good at working hard.

Very good at taking care of everyone else.

Looking back now…

I wonder if that’s when I started believing my value came from what I could carry.

The heavier the load…

the more valuable I felt.

It would take many years before I realized…

strength without rest isn’t strength at all.

Hey, you… If this resonates with you, know that it’s ok to not be strong all the time. It’s ok to ask for help. Some times admitting we are weak makes us strongest we’ve ever been. ❤️