My brother sent me this old picture last year and I’ve yet to be able to stop thinking about it. It’s your typical awkward, but cute, middle school photo that most of us enjoy and concurrently, laugh at. This photo brought on a different set of emotions for me. At the time, I was dating the guy of my dreams—cute and popular. It was Valentine’s Day and I was wearing his jersey and holding the bear he’d just given me. He’d waited until we exchanged gifts to break up with me. He wanted to make sure he got his gift he’d told me.
My heart was broken in this photo. I had to smile because that’s what was necessary. That’s what was asked of me. That’s what life, in that moment, had asked of me.
Hide your pain. Look happy. Don’t cry. Don’t let them see you broken.
The majority of us have experienced this very moment—the fear of your pain being seen as weakness and the pressure to not allow your grief to make those around you uncomfortable.
Whether it’s at work, at church, a family dinner, vacation, or that amazing picture of you holding that precious newborn, sometimes the smiles in those photos, walking around those places, are just to “save face.” We all do it. Life calls for it. Just remember to make room for yourself to process and grieve when necessary.
❤️ you, Lovelies
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