Grief

Grief is the all-encompassing connector.

It is the one thing each and every one of us will experience—the unbearable weight of loss, culminating in the worst feelings in the world. The most important thing to do is to breathe and to hold strong.

It arrives unannounced, wrapping itself around you like an old, heavy coat. Staying as close as a shadow that won't leave your side, it latches on, unwavering, until it begins to feel like a second skin. Grief is not built; it grows from the ruins of love.

Hold strong.

It won't feel real. You can try to convince yourself it's not, but the feeling won't last. Anger may consume you; don't let it. Ground yourself with a sound or a song. Change a pattern; find the light before it's gone.

Hold strong.

From where the love existed, sadness will begin to take hold. As sudden as a sunset, sorrow will sully the sanctity of the love you knew so well.

Hold strong.

Oh, what you would give to get it back. No amount of money, no treasure known to man, would be enough to reclaim what was lost—to relive that feeling of joy you held so dear before the cruel hands of fate tore it from your grasp.

Hold strong.

Surround yourself with the love you once felt, as there will be so much love to give—unspent, waiting for the right moment to find a place to blossom. To grow. In the wake of loss, love will return in time.

Grief is like a bad roommate. It's the reason your food is always gone, never paying rent, waking you up at three in the morning just to remind you it's still there. Throughout it all, it is important to understand that it will not go away, nor does it define you. Accepting that it is a part of you is the first step to knowing that while you can't outrun a shadow, you can learn to walk in the dark.