“Be kind – for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”

I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard that quote a million times. And no matter how many times I hear it, I am always reminded that we all face hardships in some form or fashion, and we all deal with our hardships differently.

For me, I am a deeply emotional person. One of my downfalls, though, is bottling up emotion. I desire to be strong – I really do, but sometimes the weight of life comes crashing down on my shoulders and I can’t seem to catch my breath.

I’ve gone back and forth on whether or not I want to share my heart, to be vulnerable with you all, but I feel like someone might need to hear these words.

So here it goes.

The past few months have been a challenge. Depression has hit me so hard that it has made getting out of bed a struggle. I’ve not been very present. I’ve put a fake smile on and pretended that everything was okay.

But you know what? It’s okay to not be okay. It’s completely normal. We have a choice, though. Stay there and let it drain the life out of you or choose to get back up and keep fighting. I choose the latter.

Listen, it’s not easy. Some days have been better than others. It’s a constant battle that I face. I’m holding onto the fact that it will get better. And if you’re going through the same struggle, just know you are not alone. It will get better.

Social media certainly masks the truth. We put our best selves out there for the world to see because being honest is tough. Being transparent is tough.

One thing that really beats me down is my self confidence. I was always the chunky kid. I have always struggled with my weight. It is one thing that makes me feel really defeated.

Recent photographs among other things have been a wake-up call. I’m tired of not liking that person in the mirror and most of all, I’m tired of feeling tired.

I’ve committed to changing. My motivation is in full swing, and I plan to stay there. I’ve found a workout that not only burns a ton of calories, but is also fun. That’s the thing. I’ve never been a runner or a traditional gym person. It’s easy to remain stagnant when I don’t enjoy the exercise.

Little by little, I’m finding my joy again. Working hard and pressing through the soreness to reach my goals. I’m pushing myself like I never have before. I feel hopeful that I am making some positive changes.

To the person who is beaten down by life, I see you. I feel you. I’m here for you. It’s important to let someone know you’re hurting.

Just remember – you’ve got this. Now go find your joy.