Hi,

I have difficulty opening up and trusting others with my emotions.

I regularly check in on others but rarely let others in.

When I feel intense emotions, I feel isolated and embarrassed and try to get through it on my own.

I look like I have it all together.

My “level-headedness” and “self-sufficiency” has always been celebrated. This makes it more difficult for me to share because it shows my vulnerabilities and flaws and weaknesses. But I am not weak. I am scared.

But what if I told you that sometimes I nearly break down when someone asks me “how are you?” or “is everything OK?”

I wait to get to a breaking point to ask for help.

Sometimes I need a push, sometimes I need another to take the initaitive, and ask the tough questions, even when the tough question is “how are you doing?” sometimes I just need to be checked in on to know I am not alone, and I don’t carry these burdens alone. I silently shoulder my burdens to not burden others. I check in on my friends often and truly care about how they feel, but I fear they would not accept me if I shared the darkest parts of me.

Sincerely,

Your Strong Friend

Check On Your Strong Friend is a call to action. An invitation to prioritize meaningful interactions and reach out to those who may be silently seeking care + connection. A reminder that nobody needs to navigate life’s challenges in isolation.

Check On Your Strong Friend launched in 2022 and has since found its home in San Francisco, California. We welcome donations, collaborations, event opportunities, and just down to get a drink or grab a bite. Contact us.

Built on a desire to encourage connection with strong friends in your life who might be silently shouldering their burdens. In a world that often celebrates resilience and self-sufficiency, it is easy to overlook those who appear to have it all together, the “strong” ones, the “smart” ones, the hot ones, the funny ones, the successful ones, the one who seems to handle everything with grace - they may be the ones who silently bear the weight of their own struggles. I am to remind you that even the seemingly unbreakable people can benefit from a kind word, a listening ear, a supportive shoulder, a text message, a phone call.

Return the favor. Strong friend have diffculty trusting others with their emotions. The strong friend is usually the person who does the check-ins.Oftentimes, the strong friend may feel isolated from their friends and family and try to “get through it” on their own.I see you strong friend, successful friend. Please remember to check in on your strong friend, your busy friend, your happy friend, your ‘seems to handle everything well’ friend

Return the favor. Strong friend have diffculty trusting others with their emotions. The strong friend is usually the person who does the check-ins.Oftentimes, the strong friend may feel isolated from their friends and family and try to “get through it” on their own.I see you strong friend, successful friend. Please remember to check in on your strong friend, your busy friend, your happy friend, your ‘seems to handle everything well’ friend

No matter the labels or stereotypes we attach to individuals, beneath the surface, we all experience the full range of emotions, joys, and struggles that make us inherently human. It's time to dissolve the illusion of invulnerability and embrace the truth that we are all in this together.

Think of checking on your strong friend as an act of solidarity, a reminder that nobody needs to navigate life's challenges in isolation. Our slogan, "Check on your friends as much as you check your phone," serves as a call to action – an invitation to prioritize meaningful interactions and reach out to those who may be silently seeking connection.

Join us in spreading compassion, empathy, and care. Extend your hand, lend an ear, offer a shoulder, share a laugh, or send a virtual hug. Together, we can create a world where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued – a world where we are united by our shared humanity.

Thank you for being a part of the COY community.

Remember, we're all much more human than otherwise, even your hot friends.

Built on a desire to spread compassion and care to those who experience life privately, we invite you to check on those around you that may be able to use a hand, an ear, a shoulder, a laugh, a hug, or just a text/call to know that we are not alone. Afterall, we are all much more human than otherwise. No matter the stereotype or label you may put on a person, the inner workings and emotoins and feelings can be felt and enjoyed and endured but its better to go along this road together. Why not give that person the chance to connect. Check on your friends as much as you check your phone.