We all have them. That one friend in the group who always seems to keep it together, and never lets the little things slow them down. The headstrong, takes shit from no one, Miss Independent. The "tough-softy," if you will. They are a loyal friend who everyone can rely on. They seldom share their emotions, even if they may wear them on their sleeve, and they always have their friends' backs. They're usually the first to stand up for someone, or know what to say when you ask for advice. But being this person sometimes has its downfalls.

Contrary to popular belief, people who have learned to be strong, usually have become that way because they had no other choice. They are hardened by the events and obstacles that their life has given them. They have had to learn the hard truth that sometimes you are your only option. Sometimes it happens when you are looking around for someone to stand up for you when you are being put down and no one is there. You learn that there comes a point where you have to be your own hero. The one who saves the day, and stops letting people walk all over you.

Being strong all the time takes its toll when you have to be strong all the time. Strength is often confused with hardness. When you have no choice but to stand up for yourself, you often push your feelings back into a corner and act like they don't exist. You put the people you care about first because you know what it's like to feel helpless and you never want anyone else to feel that way. When you push your feelings away it is harder to open up to new people in the fear that they may hurt you, so you keep your guard up.

Sometimes people forget that you need help too. It's really never intentional, and often overseen because when you are someone's rock they can't see that you have cracks, too. If you're anything like me, you wear your heart on your sleeve, even if it goes unseen to others. You try very hard to seem like you have it all together all the time, and that it's all good, even if it's not.

But, here's the thing, having emotions doesn't make you weak. Asking for help doesn't make you weak. Needing support, or telling someone when you are not okay, does not make you weak.

Asking for help, sharing your feelings and learning from them, letting people in and letting them see who you are makes you strong. Strength doesn't always come from being strong all the time. Sometimes we find strength in the comfort of others, we find strength in our vulnerability. Sometimes we find strength in accepting the things we cannot change, but not letting things defeat us. Never forget that being strong doesn't mean that you can't feel things, or that you can find strength in others.