Simone Gordon is used to being the one people call when they need help.
She shows up for her autistic son, her community, and the families who rely on her every day. It’s what she’s known for. It’s what people expect from her.
And for a long time, she kept saying yes.
In this episode, Simone shares what it looked like to carry that kind of responsibility without stopping to consider what it was doing to her. From early mornings to late nights, she was constantly moving, constantly responding, constantly showing up for everyone else.
Until her body made her pay attention.
What she thought might be something physical turned out to be something deeper. The pressure, the pace, the constant need to be available had started to catch up with her in a way she couldn’t ignore.
Simone talks about what it means to be the one everyone depends on and how easy it is to lose yourself in that role. The expectations, the responsibility, and the quiet reality of not always having the same level of support in return.
This conversation reflects a pattern many women recognize. Being the one who says yes, the one who steps in, the one who makes things happen, even when it comes at a cost.
If you’re starting to notice how much you’ve been carrying for everyone else, the Support Languages™ assessment can help you begin to understand what kind of support would actually meet you: shadesofstrong.com/supportlanguages.
About Simone Gordon
Simone Gordon is known as the Black Fairy Godmother, showing up for women and families who need help when they don’t know where else to turn.
What started as her own search for support turned into something much bigger. After struggling to find resources for herself and her autistic son, Simone went to social media and asked for help. When people showed up for her, she made the decision to do the same for others.
Since then, she’s built a community that provides emergency assistance, resources, and real-time support to Black and Brown families across the country.
Simone’s work has been featured on platforms like Good Morning America, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and The New York Times, but at the center of it all is her commitment to showing up for people in real, tangible ways.
At the same time, her story reflects the weight that can come with being the one everyone depends on, and what it looks like to start making space for herself after years of putting others first.
Connect with Simone Gordon:
About Shades of Strong®
Shades of Strong® is a space where Black women come to breathe, reflect, and reclaim strength without the struggle. Support Pauses are short, soulful reminders that you don’t have to carry it all alone. New episodes drop every weekday.
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Shirl Hubbard is the creator of Support Languages™ and host of Shades of Strong® — a movement shifting the narrative from Strong Black Woman to Supported Black Woman™ through language, rest, and real support.
