I am a strong woman, but I am emotional, and that's okay.

I find that for so many years I was trying to prove myself to others by being a strong person. I would push down any feelings that I experienced and try to forget about it until I found myself at a breaking point, in which I would still try to ignore it. I wanted other people to come to me for anything they needed and I felt that if I showed that I wasn't okay, then they would no longer come to me.

Just these past few weeks I realized that I was an emotional wreck. I was in the middle of a dance competition season, awake from 4:30 a.m., to midnight. I had classes, hours of homework, and two jobs. My anxiety was absolutely through the roof and I found myself experiencing anxiety attacks and emotional breakdowns more than ever. During the day I would try to put on a good face for others to show that I was working my butt off, but that I could also handle it. In reality, this made things worse.

After crying to my boyfriend one night after being stressed out and sad about something, I asked him if something was wrong with me for being so emotional recently. Was I still strong even though I feel weak? He looked at me and said, "Of course! We all need to cry about things sometimes it's okay to be sad and stressed."

By accepting that I am an emotional person, especially when I am under a lot of stress and pressure, I saw a major difference in my attitude. Fewer anxiety attacks, no more holding in emotions for weeks on end, and I overall felt better and stronger. I have feelings and that's okay because it shows that I have a heart. I care about people and I also care about myself. I acknowledge what is okay and what is not okay. I am kinder to people because I know what a hurt heart feels like; this overall makes me a better person

So, ladies and gentlemen, it is always okay to say you're an emotional person because that does not mean that you are weak. We are all going through stress, we don't get as much sleep as we should, and hiding your feelings to prevent from a few tears will just result in a sea of salty sobs. So express yourself! Share your emotions and don't be afraid to cry over a loved one's shoulder!

If you are an emotional person, you are strong.