Anxiety doesn't discriminate.

It touches all of us, regardless of age, success, or status.

And right now, during graduation season, I'm especially reminded of that. 

There’s so much joy in the air. Moving on from high school to college, from college into adulting. These are major milestones, and they deserve to be celebrated. But we should also recognize what comes next: uncertainty, pressure, and big transitions that can feel overwhelming beneath the surface. 

Because with every step forward comes new expectations.

I see it in 20- and 30-somethings facing unpredictable careers, social media comparison traps, and the unrelenting pressure to “have it all figured out.” Many quietly carry the weight of feeling behind, even when they're doing just fine.

But it doesn't stop there.

In our 40s, 50s, and beyond, anxiety changes shape. Raising kids, caring for aging parents, financial stress, health concerns, and career pivots. It's all heavy in its own way. And there's often a quieter fear that time is slipping away or that certain doors may have closed.

What's hidden is that many public figures (entrepreneurs, artists, leaders, athletes) carry their anxiety. It just wears a different mask: perfectionism, overwork, control, or impostor syndrome. Brené Brown and Shirzad Chamine have spoken openly about it.

Here's the truth: success and struggle can coexist.

We need to get better at sharing our own vulnerabilities, not as flaws, but as acts of courage. When we speak honestly, we create space for others to do the same. We normalize what it means to be human.

So yes, let's cheer on the grads. Let's celebrate the wins.

But let's also stay honest about the challenges that follow, and walk with each other through them.