The first episodes of The Last of Us TV series have been filled with intense moments, tension, and rare glimpses of hope. One of the interwoven storylines that resonated with me was how Ellie and her best friend concealed their feelings from each other. As we continue to watch and learn more about their relationship.
We know that they’ve been best friends and concealing feelings for each other for years. Both secretly harbored love, yet chose silence, avoiding vulnerability and outward expression. When they finally opened up, it was a truly magical moment. It was raw, honest, and powerful.
While their definitely some “movie magic” going on to help hit you in the feels, this scene highlights an essential truth: vulnerability can unlock deeper connection and personal growth. There is a lot of media and messaging out there that would have you believe that holding everything in and isolating yourself is a testament to strength. However, in my experience the opposite is true. The ability to be open and vulnerable with yourself and others takes true strength.
We often hide our true feelings because we fear judgment or rejection. I’ve been there myself. For most of my life, I struggled with being overweight and acting like everything was fine. I pretended hat I didn’t care what others thought, but that was a lie. The discomfort of hiding that truth persisted until I finally accepted how I felt. I had to be honest with myself and vulnerable enough to tell the people around me how I felt. This allowed them to hold me accountable to make the changes I wanted to make.
Acknowledging my struggles fueled my motivation to change. Embracing my feelings was essential and the prerequisite for lasting change. Doing so gave me clarity, discipline, and the courage to take action. Reflecting on this, I wish I’d started that journey sooner.
You may be asking yourself “What lesson is Jon Trying to teach us with all of this?” Don’t be like Ellie or I and suppress your feelings. Open up, confront what’s real, and you’ll find the strength to grow and evolve. Vulnerability isn’t a weakness, it’s the gateway to authenticity and transformation.
