I know you all have that friend you view as the strong friend. The one you are never too worried about because they will get the job done, no matter the circumstances. The one you call when you need advise. The one who was built to take on any challenge. Most of the time this friend has been through hell and back and made it look easy. This friend is usually optimistic and seems to only vent for a minute and comes up with a solution in the next second.

 Well this friend gets tired too. They need a shoulder to cry on. A friend to give them advise and to come up with solutions. That strong friend wants to be saved too. They want assistance carrying the load. They need friends who provide what they often give in return, reciprocity.

 I often am that strong friend. So many times my friends say, “you been through far worse, you will get through this.” I usually respond with “you are right, I will. But deep down, I need them to carry the load with me. Don’t tell me I’m strong, I am human. I feel pain just like they do. I hurt and need to cry maybe more than they truly understand. Being strong is a gift and a curse because you never get to be weak. You never get that extra help from individuals because they assume you have it, just like last time. It’s almost like if you show weakness you lose your strength. You lose your reputation and brand. 

 For that strong friend mental sanity, it’s okay to not have control of the situation and to show weakness. To be weak! (It was difficult writing that) It is truly human of you to operate in all your emotions and to feel what you truly feel.

 For friends of that strong friend, allow them to take the cape off. Just because that superhuman has weak moments does not mean they are not still your strong friend. The way they are there for you, be there for them. The way they carry you through hard times, carry them. Sometimes checking your own perception of people, can be beneficial to maintaining a healthy relationship.

 I am a strong friend and there are times where I just want to cry to my friends and operate in my weakness for more than just a few because pain hurts and I struggle too.