category: Blog
We all have “those days”, where sadness is an emotion that you cannot escape. You aren’t depressed and you might not have anything in particular to be sad about, however, the overwhelming feeling is there, like it or not.
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What do you do when you have days where all you want to do is curl up in bed and avoid all human contact? Is there a right thing to do in these situations?
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My common reaction to these days is to put on a smile and pretend I’m not feeling the way I am; but how does this help me or anyone else for that matter? Because all I am that day is fake. Why isn’t it socially acceptable to just let yourself openly feel sad some days? Again, I’m not talking about depression, I am just talking about the normal feeling of sadness here and there, and we all have those days. Most of us do what I do and just pretend we aren’t feeling what we are feeling. Especially those of us with kids, you always try to put a happy face on for them.
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I am wondering what would happen if we were just honest with ourselves and those around us. When we are feeling something, instead of hiding it, just letting it be there. Not letting it consume you, but just validating its presence. Would our children see that even mommy has happy and sad times and that is 100% ok and normal? Perhaps more children would feel like they could express their emotions more openly, that it’s not a bad thing to do so. Maybe they would even grow into confident adults, comfortable with the wide range of emotions and how to express them.
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Maybe when someone asks you how you are doing, you can tell the truth and say, “Well, I’m a little sad today, but that’s ok.” Wouldn’t that take people by surprise? I can tell you I would appreciate the realness of that answer instead of the fake “I’m doing well, how are you?” that normally follows that question.
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Let’s all try to be real to ourselves and each other, pretending doesn’t really fool anyone does it?
