Grief, gratitude and the in between
Recently, someone I knew passed away. And for a moment, the world stopped.
I thought of the person who passed away who lived a big, full life and how now they are no longer here. I thought about how strange it is that life keeps moving ahead, even in the face of such profound loss. That just a few days earlier, on the very day they passed, I had no idea something so monumental had happened. How is it that the whole world doesn’t stop—at least for a moment—to mourn or acknowledge that someone has left us?
I feel like it should have stopped.
Life is full of this delicate balance. Somewhere, babies are being born while others are taking their last breaths. And in between, the rest of us are simply living. Some days are big and full of core memories, captured in photos, holidays and celebrations, while other days are the in-between moments that slip by unnoticed, existing only in the present before vanishing forever.
I think about death more than I probably should.
When I leave the house, I insist on making my bed and picking up my clothes. I tell myself it’s because I like a clean space, but the truth is, if I die, I don’t want anyone to have to pick up my dirty laundry. I know—it’s a little strange…Like I said, I think about it more than I probably should.
I feel lucky that in my 43 years on this planet, I’ve been, for the most part, spared from grief. And yet, I think about the imminent reality of death a lot. The upside, aside from having a perpetually made bed, is that it makes me acutely aware of how precious life is.
“Sure, there are moments I take for granted, and days I won’t remember, but overall, I try not to let the gift of this life slip by unnoticed.”
Sure, there are moments I take for granted, and days I won’t remember, but overall, I try not to let the gift of this life slip by unnoticed.
I make sure to tell the people I love how much I love them. I prioritize doing the things that truly matter to me. And every morning that I wake up feeling healthy and surrounded by the people I care about most, I feel grateful.
This season of gratitude, I could list countless things I’m thankful for—because I am deeply blessed—but at its core, what I’m most grateful for is simply another day. Another day to live, to reflect, to learn and to be with the people I love.
It’s as simple as that.