Do you think society expects women to be strong all the time, even when they need support?... #loh313

Have you ever wondered why a woman who seems to have everything under control can still break down over something as little as being asked, "Are you okay?"

Sometimes, it is not because she is weak. It is because she has been strong for so long that nobody remembers to ask whether she needs a little help too.

I think society has quietly taught women that being strong means being able to handle everything. She is expected to take care of the home, raise children, support her husband, contribute financially, manage family problems, show up for everyone and still find a way to smile.

And when she finally gets tired, people remind her of how strong she should be

But what people don't always understand is that being strong does not mean you don't need support.

Think about the African woman, the woman who wakes up early to prepare breakfast, get the children ready, go to work or her business, return home to cook, clean and attend to everyone's needs.

Even when she is exhausted, she somehow finds the energy to keep going. Sometimes, she is carrying worries she cannot even explain because she doesn't want to become another person's problem.

And when she says she is tired, she may not necessarily be asking you to solve all her problems. Sometimes, she just wants someone to notice. Someone to say, "Leave that for now, let me handle it." Someone who will listen without judging, hold her without expecting anything in return and remind her that she doesn't have to figure everything out alone.

Giving birth doesn't mean a woman is immune to pain.

Being a mother doesn't mean she stops needing care.

Being a wife doesn't mean she should carry the entire weight of a home.

And being described as a "strong woman" should never become an excuse to deny her the love, patience and support she deserves.

Even the woman who always says, "I can handle it," sometimes wishes someone would tell her, "You don't have to handle everything by yourself."

And this is something both men and women need to understand. Supporting a woman doesn't take away her strength. It gives her room to breathe, rest and be human.

A woman can be strong and still need a shoulder to cry on. She can be independent and still appreciate being cared for. She can be capable of doing everything and still deserve someone willing to do something for her.

No human being was born to carry life alone, not even the strongest woman you know.

So, the next time you see a woman holding everything together, don't just admire her strength.

Ask her how she is doing and offer a hand thereby making her feel safe enough to put the weight down.

Because sometimes, what a strong woman needs most is not another reminder of how strong she is, but the reassurance that she doesn't always have to be.

Thank you for stopping by...

All images are mine