Community Submission
The Weight You Can’t See
There’s a unique kind of exhaustion that comes from pretending you’re okay when you’re not. It’s smiling through conversations while your mind is spinning, or saying “I’m fine” because it feels easier than explaining the storm inside.
The truth is, most of us have carried invisible weights, grief that lingers, anxiety that hums quietly in the background, memories that still sting even after time has passed. And because these struggles aren’t always visible, it’s easy to minimize them or feel like you don’t deserve to ask for help. But your pain is real.
It doesn’t have to be seen to be valid, and you don’t have to have a reason for why it hurts to deserve support.
Healing isn’t about pretending the weight doesn’t exist; it’s about slowly learning how to set it down. That might look like reaching out to a friend, journaling your feelings, taking a quiet walk, or giving yourself permission to rest without guilt.
Every small act of care counts. You’re not weak for needing time, and you’re not broken for feeling overwhelmed. The bravest thing you can do is to keep showing up for yourself, even when it feels like no one notices. You were never meant to carry everything alone.
Healing happens in the pauses, in the reaching out, and in remembering that you’re worthy of peace, even on the days it feels far away.
You Don’t Have To Be Okay Every Day
Some days feel lighter than others, and that’s okay! Healing doesn’t mean constant happiness; it means learning to show yourself patience through the ups and downs.
Take a breath, unclench your shoulders, and remind yourself that progress can be quiet. Even on the hard days, you’re still moving forward, one small step at a time.
Finding Light in the In-Between
Life isn’t always about the highs or the lows; it’s often lived somewhere in between. Those quiet, in-between moments can feel uncertain, but they’re also where growth quietly takes root. Healing isn’t loud or linear. It’s the small decision to get out of bed, the deep breath before trying again, and the courage to believe that things can still get better. We are human, and we are allowed to feel things.
Progress doesn’t have to look perfect. Sometimes, it’s simply choosing kindness toward yourself when your mind feels heavy. It’s giving yourself grace when motivation fades. It’s letting go of the pressure to be “fully healed” and embracing that being human means being a work in progress.
If you’re in that in-between space today, you’re not alone in it. You’re not behind. You’re not broken. You’re growing, even if it’s in ways you can’t see yet. The light you’re searching for may already be blooming within you. Be kind to yourself always, but especially in these times of uncertainty. Lean on those around you for support, or reach out to someone who can give you a listening ear.
The FTG Team
Filling The Gaps
You Don’t Have To Carry It Alone
There’s a quiet kind of strength in admitting, “I can’t do this by myself right now.” So many of us were taught that independence is the same as strength, that asking for help means you’ve failed somehow.
But that’s not true. Real strength lives in honesty. It’s being brave enough to reach out, to say, “I need someone,” and to let others hold space for you.
Your support system, whether it’s friends, family, a partner, or an online community, isn’t meant to just celebrate your good days. They’re there for the hard ones, too. The people who love you want to show up.
They want to listen, to remind you that you’re not a burden, and to help you carry the weight until you feel steady again.
When you open up, something shifts. Healing stops being something you do alone in silence, and it becomes something shared with someone you trust.
A late-night talk, a warm hug, a message that says, “I’m here if you need me.” These small moments of connection remind you that even when life feels dark, you’re surrounded by light.
So please, don’t isolate yourself when things get hard. Send the text. Make the call. Let someone in. It feels so much better when you share this weight with someone else. They can help you.
You deserve support, care, and understanding. You don’t have to carry it all alone, and you never were meant to.
Community Submissions
Tell Us Your Story!
This is an open invitation to share your story with the community. You will remain anonymous.