"No matter how happy someone may seem, they have moments when they question if they can go on. No matter how confident someone may look, there are times when they feel unsure and insecure. Never think for a moment you're alone with your struggles. You are not a mess. You are human." - Lori Deschene
If there has ever been an epic quote, it’s this one.
It’s so easy to see others and compare ourselves to the image we have in our mind of how well they are handling life. What we have to remember is that just like us, others do their best to hide their pain and struggle. I promise you that no matter who you look at in life, they are hiding some type of struggle from the world. This could be insurmountable grief or a paper cut, but the key is to look at people with compassion and not envy.
No one gets through life without challenges. Some just hide it better than others. Ultimately we need to remind ourselves that we aren’t alone, we are human. The people around us aren’t perfect, they too are human. Acknowledging humanity means we are able to offer compassion, grace and hope to each individual we encounter but even more importantly we can offer these to ourselves.
I am human. You are human. They are human. Time to stand together through life.
Sarah Deats
Sarah Deats is the Arizona Outpatient Support Services Manager at RI International and the Hope Inc. Stories Inspiration Engineer. Her goals are to make a connection with everyone that she can while building community, spreading hope, and sparking change. She believes that while life may not be easy, it is never lived alone.