So, the other day, I'm chilling with my mom and some family friends, and this sister starts pouring her heart out about her struggles. Now, I wasn't fully tuned in 'cause the bar was calling my name a few times, but my mom's there, giving her some real talk. Then, she dips out for her shift, and our family friend turns to us and starts asking what we thought. Me and my mom, we're both like, "She's going through some stuff, and that's valid." But then, they start calling her "strong" and then jumping to "maybe she's got depression." It's like they're flipping through channels without even noticing.
So, I'm looking at our friend who's training to be a counselor, and I'm like, "What makes her 'strong'?" And he's all about how she's honest about her struggles but still holding it down for her fam. I ask him if he sees himself as "strong" for grinding through the pandemic, and he's laughing like it's some kind of joke. But he ain't seeing the irony, you feel me?
They always say Black folks don't open up when we're hurting, but I call BS on that. My friends? I've poured my heart out to them, laid it all on the line, and what do I get? "Oh, we never knew you were struggling." Like, seriously? I could've been drowning in my own sorrow, and they wouldn't even notice. It's like they're too caught up in their own world to see what's right in front of them.
Now, let's talk about counseling. While my friends might be dragging their feet, I ain't waiting around for nobody. Sure, there might be waiting lists and all that jazz, but I've always found a way to get the help I need. And let me tell you, it's been a game-changer. I might've been through some rough patches, but I ain't afraid to reach out and grab that lifeline.
So, yeah, I've learned a thing or two about opening up, and I'm damn proud of it. But sometimes, I can't help but wonder, what's the point if folks ain't gonna listen anyway?
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