I used to think that being strong meant handling everything by myself.
When my marriage ended, I tried to do exactly that. I went to work, smiled when people asked how I was doing, and kept telling everyone I was fine.
I wasn’t fine.
One evening, a friend showed up with dinner. She didn’t ask a hundred questions or try to fix my life. She just sat with me.
We ate, watched something silly on television, and talked a little.
I can’t explain how much that meant.
Looking back, I think the hardest part of that time was believing I had somehow become disconnected from the world.
The truth was that people were still there. I just needed to let them in.
When I came across Connected by Creation, those memories returned.
We’re not meant to carry everything alone.
I still have difficult days, but now I make an effort to reach out, both when I need someone and when I think someone might need me.