CHECKING UP ON EACH OTHER
We all have the strong friend. Maybe we are the strong friend. No matter what title you give yourself, we all deserve to be checked in on once in a while.
Checking in can help people feel supported and learn that you are a person they can turn to when they are in need.
Send those texts out to your besties you talk to everyday and those long distance friends you haven’t heard from in a while and those in the WhatsApp pages you find yourself in.
Here are some reasons:
1. They might not be used to voicing their struggles
For someone who grew up in a dysfunctional home or may have never felt support from family or friends during childhood, they are probably just not used to sharing their struggles. They need someone to check in on them to be reminded that someone is thinking of them and caring enough about their wellbeing to actually follow through on the thought and check in on them too.
2. They might be uncomfortable voicing their struggles
Not everybody is comfortable seeking help, guidance, advice, or comfort when they are struggling. Some people are more bottled up than others. It’s still important to check in on them. Especially if they are the strong friend, because odds are they are uncomfortable voicing their struggles because they don’t feel like they have the right to voice those struggles.
3. They might not realize they are struggling
Black women are taught by society that we just work through the pain and solve problems on our own. We are not meant to carry the world on our backs and we are not meant to live our lives in pain, struggling on our own. So this is your reminder that you should check in on your friends even if they aren’t giving off a vibe that they’re struggling. They may not even know it themselves.
4. It will remind them that you are there for them
Listen, I don’t care who you are… everybody loves to know that they have people in their corner. People actually thinking about them and their wellbeing. People simply noticing them and the subtleties of their moods. People who want to make sure you’re doing okay even if you do seem happy as can be on the outside.
5. They will realize the importance of checking in on you too
When someone has people in their corner checking in on them, odds are they are going to start thinking of who in their life they haven’t checked in on recently. And we all need a bit more support and love floating around!
Check on someone today
