Fake

 You know how most of the time your house is somewhere between a mess and a complete and utter chaotic disaster that has swallowed your sanity? But when you get wind of company coming over or ever the sound of your doorbell unexpectedly, you tidy up as quickly you can so not to let people know what a complete slob you are? Fake.

Now, I'm not pointing this out to single any one person out because we all do this in one form or another. And I'm not just talking about the tidiness of your house.

If you do what you can to cover up the dark circles under your eyes, you might be hiding a stressful night. If you are putting on a smile while holding back tears, you're hiding a damn that is slowly breaking to avoid spilling your burden. If you keep your head down to avoid contact with anyone, you might be trying to hide your pain from the world.

These are all examples of faking it. I really hate that saying, “Fake it 'til you make it.” It's just a cover up of someone's pain who should be working through, not faking it. Someone who needs a hand out of that hole. Why should you need to fake it?

If you are asked to do something but you can't manage find the space in your head or focus on anything but the crumbling pain, then don't. It's perfectly acceptable to say that you are not able to complete a task at that moment. Its ok to ask someone for a moment of their time to help you work through whatever it is that is stuck in your way. If you can't climb out of the hole, I know that someone has been there before and can help you. Don't try to take on a world of problems alone.

We don't know what battles someone is fighting but we know that there is a battle. Bigger or small, your kindness, compassion, and, most importantly, your time can make a huge difference in helping someone win that battle.

Don't “fake it 'til you make it.” Open your mouth and say you need a break, time to repair and care for yourself, and make it happen. Don't keep building that burden until you can't move. Push back and tell a friend you need some wine time or to sit on a tailgate with a beer. Whatever you need, it's ok to say that you need it. Do what it takes to win that battle and know that you don't have to do it alone.

You are stronger than you think, but even the strongest person in the world needs a little help now and then.