Tess Belomo

Yeah. It's a nice exchange, you know? And it also makes me think a little bit of just rally, like the community rallying behind you and feeling relieved by support that maybe you're not accustomed to.

For me, that kind of took place in 2022 when my partner passed away, Ian, and I am super independent and I love doing things for myself and I usually have everything under control and I don't really ask for help much. And when that happened and I was living away from home, like on the opposite end of the country, I had just kind of moved there with him.

For me, that kind of took place in 2022 when my partner passed away, Ian, and I am super independent and I love doing things for myself and I usually have everything under control and I don't really ask for help much. And when that happened and I was living away from home, like on the opposite end of the country, I had just kind of moved there with him.

For me, that kind of took place in 2022 when my partner passed away, Ian, and I am super independent and I love doing things for myself and I usually have everything under control and I don't really ask for help much. And when that happened and I was living away from home, like on the opposite end of the country, I had just kind of moved there with him.

So we had some sort of community, but it was kind of like my work friends that I had met. But we didn't have any like super solid family or friends there. And so when that happened, I felt really alone because not only had I just lost the only person that I – really loved and cared about there. But I didn't really have that net of support that I would have had back here at home.

So we had some sort of community, but it was kind of like my work friends that I had met. But we didn't have any like super solid family or friends there. And so when that happened, I felt really alone because not only had I just lost the only person that I – really loved and cared about there. But I didn't really have that net of support that I would have had back here at home.

So we had some sort of community, but it was kind of like my work friends that I had met. But we didn't have any like super solid family or friends there. And so when that happened, I felt really alone because not only had I just lost the only person that I – really loved and cared about there. But I didn't really have that net of support that I would have had back here at home.

And I kept to myself for a while. I was like, I can do this. I can just keep going. And very quickly, I realized I couldn't. And as soon as I allowed people to say, let me come help you, it was just this relief. I mean, you flew in for a week. My mom flew in for a week. My best friend, Atea, flew in for a week.

And I kept to myself for a while. I was like, I can do this. I can just keep going. And very quickly, I realized I couldn't. And as soon as I allowed people to say, let me come help you, it was just this relief. I mean, you flew in for a week. My mom flew in for a week. My best friend, Atea, flew in for a week.

And I kept to myself for a while. I was like, I can do this. I can just keep going. And very quickly, I realized I couldn't. And as soon as I allowed people to say, let me come help you, it was just this relief. I mean, you flew in for a week. My mom flew in for a week. My best friend, Atea, flew in for a week.

There was just this rotation of support, even if that meant just sitting on the couch and staring at the wall for five hours. Of course. Or walking my dogs for me when I didn't have the energy to do that. Like all these little things of realizing how vital support of community and friends and family are when you're going through something tough.

There was just this rotation of support, even if that meant just sitting on the couch and staring at the wall for five hours. Of course. Or walking my dogs for me when I didn't have the energy to do that. Like all these little things of realizing how vital support of community and friends and family are when you're going through something tough.

There was just this rotation of support, even if that meant just sitting on the couch and staring at the wall for five hours. Of course. Or walking my dogs for me when I didn't have the energy to do that. Like all these little things of realizing how vital support of community and friends and family are when you're going through something tough.

It's really eye-opening, especially for somebody who feels like they just do everything themselves all the time and quote unquote don't need support. Like you do. You're a person and you're human and humans thrive on human connection.

It's really eye-opening, especially for somebody who feels like they just do everything themselves all the time and quote unquote don't need support. Like you do. You're a person and you're human and humans thrive on human connection.

It's really eye-opening, especially for somebody who feels like they just do everything themselves all the time and quote unquote don't need support. Like you do. You're a person and you're human and humans thrive on human connection.

Yeah, let people help you and let people celebrate you. Yes. Just let people be there for you.

Yeah, let people help you and let people celebrate you. Yes. Just let people be there for you.

Yeah, let people help you and let people celebrate you. Yes. Just let people be there for you.

And she was like, great, well, I need everybody. So this is perfect.