For #CancerSurvivors & #thrivers, we know opposing emotions & feelings can sometimes collide. No one puts it more eloquently than @dearcancer_itsme. Thank you Asha! Repost: I’m not okay and I am okay, and I’m not a fraud. I was messaging a friend this morning who reached out to say many of the things that I share about, she feels deeply as well. That statement meant everything. You see, many times when we share, many of us believe the lie that we are alone in our feelings. That somehow everyone else has it all together & we are a walking talking fraud. At least that’s what I believe many times. I look at all the shiny smiling squares on everyone’s IG and Facebook. I see the stories of library visits & zoo trips. I see the tiny waists and bulging muscles. I see the beautiful scenes & the epic views... but rarely do we see the sweaty worn out person, heaving from a crazy hike that’s behind the camera. Or the epic meltdown of my kid because she’s sad that the zoo monkey looked sad. Or the times I cursed and begged in my head because I wanted to quit an intense workout. Or... let’s get even more real: the argument with my Husbandman because making a relationship work after trauma upon trauma is HARD. Or, the day last week that I crawled into my walk in closet and sobbed on the phone with my mama. Or the many other things I won’t say in this space because, well, I don’t have to for you to understand... You know. You get it. Those unseen pains that no one else sees. And there’s unseen joys as well mixed in too Many times I see people basing everything about a person on what they see on these IG squares, which is honestly so silly since we all know we don’t even put it all out there (as we should) So, give grace Reach out to your people. Check in and truly sit and hold space for the good, bad & the ugly. You’re not a fraud if you aren’t okay and you post about your joy. You’re human. You’re healing. And the people that care about you, will allow you to show it all to them. If you’re not okay right now in the midst of your joyful moments: I see you, beautifully REAL human. I am you. And I’m so proud of us for sitting in the “and” ​Joy AND grief can exist together. ♥️