In a world that constantly pushes us to focus only on ourselves – our goals, our growth, our well-being – it’s easy to forget that we were never meant to do this alone. There’s nothing wrong with self-care, self-love, and prioritizing our well-being. Infact, these things are necessary for survival.

But somewhere along the way, we’ve mistaken independence for isolation and self-care became self-containment. We are learning to be selfish, to focus only on what’s within, but that does not mean we should deny what’s without. We must not forget that true strength is not just about being able to stand alone, but about knowing when to lean on others and allowing them to lean on us.

I know what it feels like to pour into others while neglecting to refill my own cup. To show up, to be the reliable one, the strong one, to be the person who carries the weight – until exhaustion makes it impossible to get out of bed in the morning. And yet, when you’re always the one holding everyone else up, it’s easy to wonder: Who will catch me when I fall?

This question has kept me up on multiple nights over the last few months, and kept me lost in thought during the day.

The truth is, we were never created to live only for ourselves or meant to carry the load alone. Life isn’t meant to be a solo journey. We are wired for connection, built to hold and be held, to uplift and be uplifted. The deepest connections – the ones that heal us, that strengthen us, and remind us of who we are – are built on the simple but powerful promise: I got you!

It’s in the friend who notices when you’re not okay and checks in.

It’s in the family member who sees past your “I’m fine” and shows up anyway.

It’s in the small gestures, the quiet support, the unspoken understanding that says, You don’t have to do this alone.

But this kind of connection isn’t just about giving – it’s also about receiving. It’s about allowing others to be there for us, too. And that can be the hardest part, especially when we’ve spent our lives being the strong one, and when asking for help does not come easy, or may even feel impossible, when we’re so used to going it alone, admitting that we need someone else can feel like a weakness. But it’s not! Letting others in, allowing them to show up for us, can be one of the most courageous things we can allow ourselves to do.

So let’s remind each other: I got you. And let’s not just say it – let’s show it. Let’s be the ones who check in, who notice, who reach out. Let’s make space for vulnerability. Let’s practise both giving and receiving because isn’t that what the world needs more of today. At the end of the day, that’s what we all need. Not just the ability to stand on our own, but the comfort of knowing that when we can’t, we don’t have to. We were never meant to do it alone anyway!

Love always,