Who Do You Show Up For?
Finding a reason when you feel like you’ve lost your own.
When I was diagnosed, I did the work for my family. I showed up because I wanted to be there for them. I pushed through the pain, the exhaustion, the fear — not because I was strong, but because I had people depending on me.
But what happens when you don’t?
When there’s no one waiting on you, no one to fight for, no one to notice if you stay in bed all day?
Sometimes, when you’re in the trenches, the depression is so heavy that you can’t even feel like you are enough to be strong for. I’ve been there. And when I was there, I had to look outside of myself for a reason.
So, what’s your reason?
Ideally, it should be you. You should be the reason you get up, eat well, take your meds, move your body, and keep going. But if it’s not, not yet , then maybe it’s time to create one.
There are so many hearts, big and small, that need love and care. Pets that need homes. Plants that need watering. Neighbors who might need a hand. It sounds like too much when you’re already struggling, I know. But sometimes, giving care pulls you out of the dark faster than waiting to feel better does. It takes the focus off your pain and places it onto something that depends on you.
When I was sick, I had my family. But I also had a dog, a cat, and an occasional hamster or fish. I worried that if I didn’t feed them or fill their water bowls, they’d go hungry or thirsty. In my mind, no one could do what I did — and maybe that thought kept me alive.
I had parents and siblings who wanted me around, and a household that needed my hands and heart. I had responsibilities — people, places, and living beings that relied on me showing up.
So if you don’t feel like or care about yourself right now, create a space that does need you. Find something or someone that gives you a reason to get up. Care for it. Nurture it. Be its constant presence.
And while you’re doing that, something beautiful happens:
you start showing up for yourself, too.
Share the Light.
Christi
P.S.
If you’re searching for a furry companion or a reason to get up each day, visit Pet Finder, a hub connecting thousands of shelters and pets who need love.
If you’re looking for a reason to get up and give back, explore opportunities through United Nations Volunteers or the POINT app — both connect people everywhere with causes that need helping hands.