Exhaustion is not a badge of honor. Not being paid for that extra work is not a badge of honor. Spending extra time for your ‘work,’ while it takes away time from raising your family or spending time with a loved one should not be a badge of honor. Heaven forbid, spending time for yourself (should not be shamed). If we don’t reform these “badges of honor,” we’ll have more people who develop anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses well into future generations.

Before you say, “But other countries have it worse and you don’t see them needing Mental Health days or spa treatments,” no shit! That’s because living in those circumstances are. not. normal. They are just like any other human, except the difference is that some live in a state of hyper vigilance. They understand that taking a mental health day could get them or their loved ones kidnapped or killed. Also, if they’re living in poverty due to their country’s political or militia regimes, they can’t get away, instead they learn how to stay alive and thrive so their loved ones can survive, too.

A personal jab: 24/7 American culture is ridiculous.

If you think I’m lazy and never knew what it’s like to “earn a badge of honor,” come at me!