What you wrote feels like the hidden cost of being “the strong one.”
We don’t pretend we’re fine because we’re liars, we pretend because the world rewards performance and punishes pain. It’s wild how you can hit every target while your life is burning down, and people applaud the mask without ever seeing the person underneath it.
I think pretending to be fine is a symptom of a society that too often prefers lies to honesty. Lots of people may be struggling this week. Timely piece.
"That’s a nervous system so used to threat that it can’t tell the difference between danger and Tuesday." Wow. Story of my life. I hope you're writing a book.
On edge today. Cancelled clients. Danced to Frank Ocean — interpretively even — on here LIVE. I’m taking whatever safety net I can and wrapping myself in it. I will rest. And I will figure out this Brick I spend $$ on to keep me off this dopamine ego box. Thank you for making it clear we are all clinging. Let’s be extra soft and aware of how everyone is doing their damndest not to crumble.
‘We answer emails from the parking lot after crying in the car. We take calls while having panic attacks, muted. We hit deadlines while our personal lives implode. We perform normal while everything inside us is screaming.’
This spoke volumes to me - it’s so sad that so many of us are in this position
This is an extraordinary piece of writing. The way you describe the performance of “fine” — the cost of it, the invisibility of it — is painfully true. Most people have no idea how many of us are barely holding on. Thank you for telling the truth.
Beautiful essay. "The wild thing about burnout is that it doesn’t always look like failure. Sometimes it looks like success." 💔 dmed you when you get a chance. 💕
What you wrote feels like the hidden cost of being “the strong one.”
We don’t pretend we’re fine because we’re liars, we pretend because the world rewards performance and punishes pain. It’s wild how you can hit every target while your life is burning down, and people applaud the mask without ever seeing the person underneath it.
Thank you for saying this out loud
🕯️💛
Thank you!
Lingering afterthought:
We’re taught to survive by taking from ourselves first —
energy, sleep, sanity, softness.
We starve our own needs just to keep performing like everything’s fine.
We get copiously rewarded for it, after all.
Thought of these lyrics…
“Steal from yourselves
It never felt so good
And feed from their hand
Confused by opposites”
— Chevelle, “Jars”
You’re welcome! 🌙🤍
I think pretending to be fine is a symptom of a society that too often prefers lies to honesty. Lots of people may be struggling this week. Timely piece.
Thank you Maureen. I agree.
"That’s a nervous system so used to threat that it can’t tell the difference between danger and Tuesday." Wow. Story of my life. I hope you're writing a book.
On edge today. Cancelled clients. Danced to Frank Ocean — interpretively even — on here LIVE. I’m taking whatever safety net I can and wrapping myself in it. I will rest. And I will figure out this Brick I spend $$ on to keep me off this dopamine ego box. Thank you for making it clear we are all clinging. Let’s be extra soft and aware of how everyone is doing their damndest not to crumble.
‘We answer emails from the parking lot after crying in the car. We take calls while having panic attacks, muted. We hit deadlines while our personal lives implode. We perform normal while everything inside us is screaming.’
This spoke volumes to me - it’s so sad that so many of us are in this position
This is an extraordinary piece of writing. The way you describe the performance of “fine” — the cost of it, the invisibility of it — is painfully true. Most people have no idea how many of us are barely holding on. Thank you for telling the truth.
On time piece! We’re having Chinese on Thursday because I am tired.
Beautiful essay. "The wild thing about burnout is that it doesn’t always look like failure. Sometimes it looks like success." 💔 dmed you when you get a chance. 💕
Taking a look now. Thank you Danni
leave it all behind and walk away to a place where peace can finally start to take hold. we might be trembling and alone, but we’ll be free…