It’s Okay not to be “Okay”

Let’s be honest, life can really suck sometimes. Whether it’s a rough patch, a bad day or even a bad week, it can feel like nothing will ever go your way. Shitty things happen to good people, and sometimes it takes all our energy just to even get out of bed in the morning. 

But 2022 is the year to acknowledge our emotions and the way we are feeling. It’s okay to cry, and it’s important to tell people how you really feel. We have a tendency to constantly try and make ourselves and others feel better all the time, without ever giving ourselves a break. Everything isn’t always going to be perfect, or even halfway decent and sometimes that’s just the way life works. We think we have to be strong all the time, or put on a face and pretend to be happy. 9 out of 10 times, pushing away those feelings will  just cause you more pain later on. Claiming to be happy all the time isn’t feasible. It simply does not exist, and never will. 

What bothers us is why do we always feel the need to be strong and pretend that everything is okay? Feeling pity or sorry for yourself once in a while is okay, and is a natural coping mechanism. Our society today is so obsessed with putting on this front that we are living happy, perfect, lives - that it is so refreshing to see someone be transparent about their feelings and emotions. More and more people are starting to normalize it, but it’s still not something that is talked about enough. 

Literally EVERYONE is struggling with something, no matter how small it may seem. Something that may seem insignificant to one person, may seem like an impossible hurtle to someone else. Just remember that you are not the only one feeling this way - even if no one else is talking about it, we all know what it feels like to not be “okay.” 

A common theme is hating to open up to others because we don’t want to “burden” other people with our problems. If someone truly cares about you, they won’t want to see you hurting. Everyone needs a support system, so if you are there for someone else, then other people will be there for you. Don’t be afraid to lean on others in times of need and just remember that you are never alone. Whatever it is you are going through right now, just know that things WILL get better.

LifestyleAnna Grenier