7 years since my dad passed in an accident, here’s what I learned so far
1. Grieving takes a while, allow it to be a process of growth rather than despair.
2. You aren’t the only one. Someone else has had it similar to or worse than you. Therefor, you don’t have to walk around with a chip on your shoulder. Instead, use it to connect with others or help others not make what you consider to be some of the mistakes or regrets that you hold over yourself.
3. Life doesn’t have to be serious all of a sudden. Sure, don’t take it for granted. But don’t over-analyze every moment. You’ll wear yourself out. Let moments be what they are rather than this grand introspective lesson.
4. Do it for yourself. I went through 3–4 years of dedicating everything to my dad. I think he would’ve just wanted me to do what made me happy and not him. Doing what makes you happy would make them happy.
5. Talk to someone. Those who grieve do not deserve to bear the weight alone.
6. Don’t forget about everyone else. While you may have lost someone important to you, don’t forget that they weren’t the only one important to you. 10 years of mourning can be 10 years of lost time with someone else.
7. Grow forwards, not backwards. The past can somewhere to visit, but not live.
8. Move past regrets. If you lost someone unexpectedly, don’t be sorry you didn’t spend more time with them. Some people bless us with a gift we know as time, and feeling like we weren’t short on it.
9. When something tragic happens to us, it can instill fear in us, i.e. fear of being hurt, again. Don’t let death stop you from living.
