On August 30th, 2021, I wrote in my gratitude journal, "I'm grateful for voice memos." The night before my daughter was born, I missed a phone call from my dad. And now that he's gone, this message has become one of my most treasured memories. Hearing his voice and the love in his words gives me comfort.

At a time when I'm supposed to feel happiness, I have sadness. I associate her birth with his death. Do I still have joy surrounding her birth. Absolutely. But I also think about the events that soon followed. For anyone listening who has lost someone, maybe you can relate.

For me, grief is best described in this quote by Vicki Harrison:

"Grief is like the ocean; sometimes it comes in waves, ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn how to swim."For those of you who have lost someone, sometimes the water is calm and sometimes you're doing your best to keep your head above water.

Death is the best teacher. It teaches us that life is so fragile and no one is promised tomorrow. It teaches us to live in the moment instead of rushing through life from one thing to the next.

So slow down. Be present and grateful for time that you have with the people you love. Make the most out of each moment. And if you've lost someone close to you and you're missing them real bad, know that it's ok to be sad. It's ok to want to remember. It's ok to cry and feel sadness. Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning. - Psalms 30:5.

Live Your Life In Bloom