Chat with my aunt in Tucson made me rethink my whole 'I'm fine' routine

So my aunt called me out last Sunday during dinner. She just looked at me and said 'you smile like your mom did when she was lying about being okay.' Hit me right in the gut because she was the one person I thought I was fooling. Now I'm wondering how many other people in my life see through the act but just don't say anything. Anyone else had a family member call them out like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

gibson.avery29d ago

Man, that's hard. I'd say the best thing you can do is take it as a sign that this person cares enough to not let you fake it. @oliverhernandez is right that it's usually someone who knew you before the mask went up. What helped me was actually telling that person "you're right, I'm not okay" and letting them just sit with it. They didn't try to fix me, they just knew and that took a little weight off. Maybe your aunt could be that person for you if you let her in a tiny bit.

william_harris29d ago

That line about "smiling like your mom did" hit me so hard just reading it. My uncle did something similar to me at a family barbecue last summer, he just quietly said "your laugh sounds different now" and walked away. It's scary how clearly some people can see through the act, especially the ones who knew us when we were genuinely happy.

oliverhernandez29d ago

Yeah that's rough. Nothing cuts deeper than someone who actually knew you before the act. Sounds like your aunt still sees the real you underneath.