Yes, I Can Handle Things on My Own, but Does It Always Have to Be This Way?
I’ve always handled things on my own. From a young age, I’ve learned to be self-reliant to manage everything without expecting help. It’s almost become second nature to me. People around me have gotten so used to this idea that they don’t even stop to ask if I need support. It’s as if they’ve stamped me with the label: “Strong enough to handle everything.” And yes, I am strong. But sometimes, strength can feel like a burden.
Don’t get me wrong — I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it for as long as I can remember. I’ve fought battles, carried the weight of my own struggles, and come out on top, time after time. But there’s this quiet thought in the back of my mind: wouldn’t it be nice to have someone by my side? Not because I need them to fix things but just to share the load. I want to have someone who sees through the facade, who doesn’t just assume I’m okay because I always seem to be.
It’s not that I don’t ask for help — trust me, I’ve tried. But the reality is, every time I reach out, no one’s there. Maybe it’s because they’re used to me being the strong one, or maybe they just don’t see my struggles as something I need help with. I don’t know. What I do know is that it gets lonely sometimes. It gets heavy. And being the one who’s always “got it together” makes it harder to admit that sometimes I don’t.
I’ve grown used to people turning me down when I need them the most. It’s made me stronger, sure, but it’s also made me a little more closed off. Each time I’ve been let down, I’ve learned to build walls. I tell myself, I’ll just do it on my own, again. And I do. But deep down, I wonder what it would feel like to have someone genuinely show up when I ask.
I can handle things on my own, and I probably will for a long time. But maybe, just maybe, it doesn’t have to be this way forever. Maybe one day, someone will see beyond my strength, beyond my independence, and realize that even the strong need someone sometimes.
