Your hard seasons are why you can sit with a friend in theirs without flinching.

People who have been through something difficult tend to be the ones who can stay in the room when someone else is falling apart. They are not rushing to fix it or changing the subject, because the discomfort is familiar and they know it does not need solving. That steadiness came at a price you did not choose to pay.

When someone near you is struggling, aim to be present rather than useful. Ask what they need and accept whatever answer comes, including nothing. Sitting there without flinching is rarer than advice and worth considerably more.