Shannon Barry is the friend I never knew I needed. And I’ve never even met her.
Barry, or @barry_happy as she goes by online, is a writer who shares personal stories of her life. Her diary entries, mostly on Instagram, are honest depictions of the life of a 25-year-old actress with Crohn’s disease. Although she advocates for awareness of Crohn’s in some of her posts, her feed is just a collection of often ordinary moments in her life. She speaks openly about mental health, friendship and body image, as well as maintaining a valuable genuineness with her audience.
For me, Barry’s wisdom and compassion are her greatest strengths. Since she posts a message almost every day, I know I have someone to rely on. She gives advice with understanding and empathy and is always kind in doing so. As an only child, she’s like the big sister I never had, and someone who I am so grateful to have found.
If you do not know anyone in her life, you will soon come to love them. She introduces her cast of characters with love and care, making sure you begin to know her friends the way she sees them.
Above all else, Barry is a friend. She is so clearly and obviously there for the people in her life, and for me, she has become a person to trust as well.
If I am having a bad day, I scroll through my bookmarked collection of her words and find one that can apply to my situation. If I am having a good day, I do the same. I can associate her words with specific points in my life, and every day there is a new story. She is an inspiration on her good days and bad days, and she always can bring out the hope in me.
And as much as I could talk about Barry’s influence on my life, I would rather showcase her own work. Here are my ten favorite quotes of hers:
- “You are all the streets you’ve lived on. This is your strength. You have more than one heart.”
- “Feel it all and rest easy. It is not for nothing.”
- “The ground never rose up, but I did.”
- “Any great feeling, terrible or fantastic, can always exist at once.”
- “The world does not start or end with you. Your mistake will not end universes. Your apologies are enough. Your kindness will last longer than your anger. You are good.”
- “A thousand times you think your heart will break but it keeps beating anyway.”
- “Just wait for the sunrise. Close your eyes for a little while. When you wake up, it will be better. Maybe not solved, maybe not even easy, but better”
- “I am a force of nature. The world will wait for me.”
- “And I built my heart like an estuary. A brackish place, a place for more than one feeling to exist.”
- “I am fierce, and I come with edges. I was made to be formidable. I am no small thing.”
If you are looking for a friend, Barry will be there for you. If you are looking for a place to feel, she will welcome you with open arms. Shannon Barry has taught me the value of friendships, the importance of vocalizing how I feel and that hoping is the bravest thing you can do.