Living Through Loss and Grief.

Perhaps because we just celebrated Mother's Day and Father's Day, I have found myself missing my parents more than ever recently.

They afforded me an incredible life.

They put the world at my fingertips.

They gave me incredible advice and guidance.

I wish I still had access to their prescriptions, and sage knowledge.

I found myself reacquainted with the age old notion that there is no love greater than the love we are gifted from our parents and families.

Now, as a mother myself, I embrace this fact more than ever.

It's weird how this whole loss thing works.

Sneaky if you will.

Our sorrow serves to be the reminder that we are human.

Certain kinds of heartbreak wrap us in our humanity.

An admonition that we are not impenetrable.

We are not infallible.

Grief and loss serve to point out that we all live on one big merry go round.

One that we never really get off of.

Some days we may find ourselves having fun and enjoying the ride, dismissing what we have been through, maybe even ignoring it, but briefly allowing ourselves to forget it.

Other days?

Hanging on for dear life in the fetal position.

Crying at the drop of a hat.

Out of nowhere.

But we need to accept that we can't calculate our days, our months, or even hours.

No matter how hard we might try.

It will always be in the background.

It is all fluctuating.

But don't worry.

Being unhappy, sad, and even uncomfortable, is a part of life.

And missing people, means that they meant something.

That they were significant to you.

So after a very tough couple of weeks, I guess I needed to recall that;

You (I) are/am capable.

You (I) CAN do it all.

Maybe, just not all at once.

But don't stand in your own way.

Don't shut yourself down, or off.

Pause.

Take a deep breath and...breathe.

Look for your cheerleaders.

AND don't forget to be your own.

I just figured perhaps someone else needed to be encouraged today, so I did the only thing I know how to do lately, and wore my heart on my sleeve, or paper, or in reality, screen.

That said, have a great week, and keep doing your best.

That is all we can strive for.

And know that YOUR best may not look the same to everyone else.

But that is OK too.

You got this.

Xoxo,

C.