What I decode from this, Jenn, is that it is all a charade. Another case of putting on a brave face for everyone else's benefit when - in terrible truth - you are dying on the inside.
A clever write.

Take care,

Ben

Jenn, I really liked this a lot. We all tend to put on that happy face when dealing with the world. I felt you did a really awesome job putting our "charades" to word. Well done.

Thank You Ben & Brenda!
That is the msg, but still there is more to it.
The first word after every semicolon has a msg as well.
"I Am Far From Ok."
A style l've seen used, and I wanted to give it a try.

Daily many people around the world get up, paint on their smiles, pretend they have no worries or fears the face the world alone with "I am okay" and I think if you say it so much you begin to believe it yourself.

Fantastic, Em