A curious thing happened after my last post: I had friends and family checking up on me.
Which is not to say I didn’t appreciate hearing from every single one of you. You are all amazing and I am honored that you care about me. Thank you for that. ♥
I almost chose not to mention the breakdown. After all, the point of the post was the fact that I get a chance to do something exciting and terrifying that will go a long way to fulfilling a dream that I’ve maybe never quite believed possible.
Let’s face it: there is not enough discussion about mental and emotional health. There is a stigma attached to the subject, and treating it like it’s something rare or unique or unusual isn’t helping anyone.
That’s why I didn’t edit it out of the last post. Well, that and because I felt truly badass for being such a wreck and then doing something so awesomely terrifying.
Breakdowns are considered a weakness, and weakness is shameful. Or so society seems to want us to believe. But acknowledging and embracing weakness is also a form of strength. Breakdowns happen every day and are nothing to be ashamed of. I don’t understand dancing around the fact of them or using coded language to talk about them as obliquely as possible.
Newsflash: none of this makes them go away; it only perpetuates the culture of avoidance.
They happen to all of us, at one point or another, because life is hard, and we all reach a point where we just can’t deal with it. Some of us are blessed and privileged with the ability to get through them – move past them – more quickly than others. (I think I’m one of the privileged ones, so please take all this with a grain of salt.)
If I’m talking about a breakdown, that means it’s over and done, and I’m fine. Seriously. And if you’re checking up on me, please be patient if I’m confused and don’t immediately remember why you might be concerned.
Most importantly, thank you for caring.
Melissa Burkart 
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