Do you ever feel like a burden when you want to share something that’s weighing on you?
I’ve wanted to write about this for a while, carefully considering the best way to approach it. We all carry something – always have, always will. Our days are filled with to-do lists, unfinished tasks, and the constant worry of what’s next. And that’s without even mentioning the problems that go far beyond a simple checklist. Our minds are endlessly occupied, weighed down by responsibilities and expectations.
But what strikes me the most is how many people genuinely believe they are a burden to the world. I understand that, perhaps, not everyone will be willing to listen. But that doesn’t make your struggles any less valid. And yet, so many instinctively minimize their pain, afraid of being “too much” for someone else to handle. The irony is that sometimes, a stranger, a passerby, a cashier at a local bakery, might be more willing to listen than those closest to us. It’s not always our inner circle that provides the most understanding. Sometimes, it’s the unexpected people who remind us that we are not alone.
I consider myself incredibly lucky to have a small circle of people with whom I can share my thoughts without feeling guilty for “burdening” them. Still, I often find myself apologizing, worried that my words are an inconvenience. But deep down, I know that this same small circle feels the same way and that they, too, can turn to me without hesitation. That is, to me, one of the ways to be there for one another.
I wish people understood that they were not born as burdens but with a purpose. Each and every one of us. Life decorates us with experiences, some of them unbearably heavy, and in those moments, we crave understanding, the chance to share the weight, or at least speak up about it. Yet, so many people I know suppress their struggles, unwilling to appear vulnerable, unwilling to impose. But they can share. And so can you. If there’s no one to talk to, write it down. Fill half a notebook if you must, it will listen very carefully. Say a prayer, pour out your soul, whatever your desire. I promise you, no one will judge you for it.
I’ve seen firsthand the damage caused by bottling up emotions and how it leads to deeper wounds, how it forces people to put on a happy mask even when they’re breaking inside. And worst of all, how we start wearing that mask even around those who wouldn’t ask us to. I’ve never liked masks. Quite frankly, I hate them. Both in life, and certainly in this little writing space of mine. Here, there are no filters and no sugarcoating. And if you happen to resonate with it, you are more then welcome to stay.
I see so many faces weighed down by unspoken words, afraid of being “too much,” afraid of being judged. But here’s the simple truth: You won’t be. I’m sure you’ve heard this plenty of times, but the way people perceive you is often just a reflection of themselves. If you open up to someone consumed by anger, they might respond with blame. If you turn to someone filled with kindness, they will listen and offer comfort. The words you say remain the same, the only thing that changes is the audience.
I want this place to be a safe corner for open conversations, a place where you can be exactly who you are without fear of judgment or societal filters. Because the first step toward solving any problem is defining it – whether in your mind, on paper, or out loud to someone who is willing to listen.
But no, you are not a burden. You might feel like one to those who don’t even know how to carry their own weight, but that has nothing to do with you. You are not a burden just because life gets heavy. You are not a burden for needing to express how you feel. We need to stop apologizing for existing.
The only time you become a “burden” is when you let others convince you of it. When you apologize to those closest to you for simply being human. When you hold it all inside, convinced that everyone else has it all figured out and that you are the only one something is wrong with.
So share. Write. Speak. Even if it’s just to yourself. Write it here if you want to. We’ll get through it together and you are not alone.
From my mind to yours,
A.
Sleepy Alien 