Today, Jack Jack and I had the joy of spending time at a local high school during their Mental Health Wellness Week. For those who haven’t met him, Jack Jack is my big, lovable, certified therapy dog—equal parts slobber and soul-healer.
He’s the kind of dog who doesn’t care what you wear, what your GPA is, or how many followers you have. He just wants to sit next to you and remind you you’re not alone.
That’s what we were there to do. Just be there—to offer presence, to offer warmth, to offer pause in the middle of a world that often moves way too fast.The students blew me away. Seriously. They were honest. Thoughtful. Beautifully unique. Some shyly knelt beside Jack, petting him in silence. Others smiled wide and shared about their love for dogs or how much they needed a break from the pressure.
A few paused to ask me how my day was going—which might seem like a small thing, but in a culture where so many are stuck in their own swirl of stress and survival, that kind of kindness feels sacred.But there was one moment I won’t forget.I asked a senior how her day was going.
She smiled and said, “Good.” Then she stopped.She looked at me. And with a deep breath, said, “Actually… it’s been a really hard day. I’m struggling with my friends. It’s not just the end of the year—it’s the end of my senior year. I’m scared. I’m scared we won’t have time to make things right.”And just like that, she let herself be seen.
No mask.
No filter.
No performance.
Just truth.
I could’ve cried right there in the middle of the hallway. Not out of sadness—but out of awe. She chose connection over pretending. She chose vulnerability over silence. She chose to let someone—me, a stranger with a big fluffy dog—into her real life, even if just for a moment.And that moment mattered.
Jack Jack leaned in close to her, like he knew. Like he could feel the weight she was carrying and wanted to help her carry it. And I thought: how many of us walk around every day needing support but too afraid to admit it? How many of us say “I’m good” when we’re not? How many chances for healing do we miss because we’re trying so hard to hold it all together?
Listen, I get it. Vulnerability is scary.
But you know what’s scarier?
Living your whole life pretending you’re fine when you’re falling apart inside.
That student reminded me—and maybe she can remind you too—that being real doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human. It makes you brave. It makes space for healing.
She didn’t need a full therapy session or a perfect fix. She needed a moment of connection, a safe space, and a slobbery dog to sit with her pain and remind her it doesn’t have to have the last word.
Maybe you need that today. Maybe someone around you does.
So here’s your challenge:Be brave enough to not be okay.
Be kind enough to ask someone how they really are.
And be present enough to stop and listen to their answer.You don’t have to fix it all.
You don’t have to carry it all.You just have to be real.
And real is where healing begins. You’re not alone. You’re not too much. You’re not too late. You’re human.
And you’re loved. Even if today all you’ve got is a crack in the mask and a dog to sit beside you—That’s enough.
And some days, it’s everything.
#youmatterhere #AdventuresofJackJack #thebiggestsmallestdog #mentalhealth #vulnerability #greengardencdc