Between talks with my children, things in the media and conversations with friends there has been a reoccurring topic coming up over and over the past few months. In a world where your friends and family are a click away we as a society have never seemed more alone.
When the topic first came to my attention I was thinking about it in reference to teen girls. These girls are going through a lot. Body changes, family situations, future plans and more pressure than I think I even realize. Yet as close as these girls are a lot of times they don't see when their friend is in trouble or needing someone. I don't think it's because they don't care I think that their own world just feels so big it is hard to see past it sometimes. Not to mention they can find it very hard to speak up when they are having a hard time themselves. They just need someone to see them.
There is a show on ABC in the first episode a friend takes his own life. Literally when another friend in their group is called to be given the news he has a mouth full of pills about to take his own life. Two friends in a seemingly close group about to take that same end and no one knew. No one could tell they were in trouble. They were happy. They had their life together. No one saw their truth.
Demi Lovato is an icon. She is a well respected woman with enormous talent who probably has her own tribe of close friends. Yet just this weekend she sang an incredibly emotional song about no one hearing her. Surrounded by fans and loved ones and no one could see her pain.
I've always been pretty good at seeing when someone was having a bad day. I can see pain in their eyes, I can hear the change in their voice. I can see the way they don't make eye contact because they know they will fall apart if they do. But even with that I know I don't check in on my friends and family enough. I am sure there have been people around me who wish I could see their truth.
I'm not sure I have any answers or profound statements to make sense of my thoughts. I just wanted to put it out there. I am extremely blessed to have a couple of ladies who have pulled me through some very dark times. I have a friend who I haven't seen in years but she seems to be able to sense when I need her to reach out. I am lucky to know I'm not alone and that someone sees my truth....or at least as much as I allow anyone to. To anyone who may read this that needs to talk I may not have the answers and I am so far from perfect but I can be your "anyone" who will listen, who will see you and who will acknowledge your truth.
