What happens when being “strong” stops being a choice — and becomes an expectation?In this episode of Group Chat Over Brunch, we gather at Rood, a space that feels warm, grounded, and intentional, to unpack the emotional, mental, and physical cost of always being the one who holds everything together.So many women are praised for their strength — yet rarely supported because of it. In this conversation, we name the unseen labor behind being “the strong one”: emotional caretaking, mental load, unpaid care work, and the quiet burnout that follows when rest feels like guilt.Using real experiences and research, we explore:• When strength is chosen vs. assigned• How emotional labor shows up in our bodies• Why people confuse strength with availability• What happens when the fixer finally stops fixing• How to ask for help after a lifetime of being relied onWe also sit with a grounding truth: women perform nearly 75% of unpaid domestic and care work worldwide, a burden directly linked to chronic stress and burnout.This episode is for the woman who shows up, holds it down, keeps the wheels turning — and rarely gets asked how she is doing. It’s a reminder that strength does not have to mean solitude, and that being held is just as powerful as holding.✨ If this conversation resonates, send it to someone who’s always “the strong one.”They deserve support too.👉 LIKE this video if it spoke to you👉 SUBSCRIBE for more honest conversations centered on women’s lived experiences👉 SHARE with someone who needs permission to rest