This hit home for me. Definitely called out a ton of things that I've also thought or felt, especially about keeping things inside or struggling to let myself be happy. I'll admit I'm a huge softie on the inside, but as a defense mechanism it's always been easier to just appear "hard as nails."

Even with friends and family, it has always seemed more natural to be buttoned up and pretend everything is okay when really there's so much going on internally that nobody would ever guess.

I'm glad that you've been able to work towards a healthy balance and learn that having a big heart with a lot of feelings truly is a blessing. Life would be so boring without it. Vulnerability is beautiful.

Such a great piece!