Me Too

The most comforting phrase in existence is so much simpler than the lengthy (though admirable and inspiring) quotes from famous philosophers and other such wisdom-holders. I believe the mere affirmation of “me too” is enough to keep someone alive because in that one moment, with very few words exchanged, you know that you are not alone in the world and that someone else understands even a fraction of what you’re going through.

Everyone has their own story, even if they don’t know it. Everyone has been touched by someone who will never realize the impact they had. I remember the first time another person validated me in just saying “me too.” I was sitting in chapel in 11th grade with the rest of my school around me and the girl sitting next to me (that I had known since preschool but had never really connected with) said that she had been on the same antidepressants as I had just begun taking. I have a terrible memory but that is one moment, 2 and a half years later, that I can recall as though it was earlier today. We became closer friends but I doubt that even she will ever realize the impact that she had on me or that I still reminisce on that moment when I’m having a dark spell, and can know that I am not alone. I have met and spoken to many people since who have dealt with relatable thing to me, but that singular second in time is of of the few I can truly draw on without fail.

Many people are afraid to share their own story, or perhaps don’t even know that they have one but once someone around them is willing to open up about theirs, being able to say or hear that one phrase can bring so much peace. I know talking about your struggles is hard, and not everyone will be able to relate but the more comfortable you become in opening up, the more amazing life becomes as you slowly realize…you are not alone.

Just the other day, I was sitting on a plane with a 38 year old british man and a 27 year old american girl, on the surface none of us had much in common except that we were all willing to pass some of the 8 hour flight chatting. As it does with me, eventually the fact that I write this blog and why I continue to do so came up in conversation which then led to the girl sharing that she has bipolar disorder and the man’s little brother has schizophrenia. Neither of these people were particularly “closed books” but this is one area that doesn’t often come up in normal small-talk conversation. It was absolutely phenomenal to listen to these two confident and amazing people share that they too have come face-to-face with mental illness and kept pushing, growing and learning thought it. They were almost 10 and 20 years my senior and both living very productive and interesting lives. Mental illness didn’t defeat either of them nor does it define them. 

Those two will also never see the impact they had on me, but I know that for years to come I will be able to look at that encounter, despite the fact that we all struggled in different capacities, and see that those struggles were not the be-all-end-all of their lives. Life goes on, and nobody is alone. The only barrier between a person and “me too” is the willingness to share.