YOU OKAY?

YOU OKAY?

Hi there :)

Before you dive in, I just want to say this: whatever you’re going through, whether life feels amazing or impossibly heavy, you’re not alone. The fact that you’re reading this means you’re still here, and I’m glad you are.

Alright, enough of the sap. Ready? Let’s get into it.

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Valentine’s Day

Cue Cupid’s birthday, about two years ago now.

Valentine’s Day is one of those days that either feels really special or completely sucks. There’s not much in-between, right?

So there I was, walking home from work, fully embracing the “Valentine’s Day sucks, man… love is dead” mood. Facts.

I was minding my own business, heading to the 72nd Street train on the Upper West Side in NYC, when out of nowhere, a man approached me.

He pulled out a gun, pointed it straight at my head, and asked me one question:

“Why shouldn’t I kill you right now?”

Clearly, he was feeling the same way I was about Cupid. Stupid baby.

I froze. Completely shocked. It felt like the entire world just stopped, like the noise, the chaos, the nonstop hustle of NYC had been put on mute.

Our eyes locked. His gun was pointed straight at my head. My mind was racing a million miles a minute, yet somehow, I couldn’t think at all.

Then, somehow, I managed to speak.

“I don’t know why you shouldn’t kill me,” I said. “But I’m sorry for whatever you’re going through.”

I will never forget that moment.

He looked at me, lowered his gun, and for the first time, his eyes softened. In that instant, I no longer saw him as a threat, I saw someone who was completely broken.

He didn’t rob me. He didn’t hit me. And, obviously, he didn’t pull the trigger.

His gaze dropped from mine, and then, just like that, he turned and ran, leaving me standing in the exact spot where he’d found me.

And suddenly, the city came rushing back to life. The noise, the chaos, the relentless pulse of NYC, all of it crashed over me at once.

I stood there, caught in the middle of it all, thinking:

“I’m not okay.”

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Challenge

The truth is, a lot of people around you aren’t okay.

Your family. Your friends. Your coworkers. Even the bartender who always gives you the good stuff.

And maybe… you’re not okay either.

Not to sound cliché, but that’s okay.

I truly believe that together, we can make a difference.

When I finally got on the train at 72nd Street, all I wanted, more than anything, was for someone to hug me. To smile at me. To tell me everything was going to be okay.

Would that have fixed everything? No. My therapist and I have put in a lot of work. But in that moment, just having someone see me, acknowledge that I wasn’t okay…

Wow. The power in that? It’s beyond words.

So, with maybe a minute left together, will you go on this journey with me?

What would it look like to text a friend and simply ask, “Hey, you okay?”

Or to call them.

Or even meet up in person and say those three simple words.

Maybe it won’t change anything. And that’s okay.

But what if it did?

What if that one small act was the thing that made someone feel seen, heard, and loved?

Because at the end of the day, isn’t that what we’re all searching for?

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What about you?

If you’re not okay right now, I want you to know I’m here.

You are not alone.

I know it might feel like things will never be okay again, but please, keep going. One step at a time. One day at a time.

I may not know you yet, but I see you. I hear you. And I want to help however I can.

Here’s my number: 774-991-3567.

We’re in this together. Always.

Here’s a link to share what happened! Love to hear your story!