There are millions and billions of people in this world that look, sound, act and move differently. These differences are things we celebrate in each other. They are the things that make this world amazing and unique. Despite the many differences that we have, we also have a lot of similarities. We all love, grieve, and feel happiness. The tricky thing about those three emotions is when they are combined into one and not knowing how to navigate them. Unfortunately, it isn’t until something tragic happens that we realize this connection.
On January 26, 2020, Kobe Bryant, his 13 year old daughter “Gigi” and 7 other victims died in a helicopter crash. This news shocked everyone, sending us quickly into the first 4 stages of grief (shock/denial, pain, anger, and depression/reflection). Kobe was a man loved and admired all around the world for his basketball career, love of his family, and for being a hardworking man that never gave up. Regrettably, this isn’t the first or last time we as humans will feel grief. Grief is felt when you lose a loved one, when you get your heart broken, when you don’t get the job you want, and so many other ways. It comes in a multitude of situations. The question often asked after we feel such grief is “What now?”, “How do I navigate life after such a loss?”
This can be the difficult part. Often times the hurt can overshadow the idea of moving forward or even make it seem impossible. Sometimes people even think that they should hide it or be strong. But what is strength if you can’t feel it even in the worst of times. To be able to pick yourself up and keep going is the ultimate strength.
As we take things day by day and adjust to the hurt, we start moving towards the last 3 stages of grief (upward turn, reconstruction, hope/acceptance). Navigating through these last stages doesn't mean that you completely forget about your grief altogether. You will still have your moments of sadness, feeling lost, or missing the one you love. It just means that you use your strength to move forward. This can mean basking in all the great memories, carrying on their legacy, or laughing at the good stories. Remember this will take time.
In life, things don’t always go the way that we think they will go. So with that we need to live for today! Take every opportunity, every hug, every “I love you” and cherish them.
“Carpe Diem.”
Author: Mo
Mo is a California native who loves to travel, eat great food, and empower women to explore self-love and self- care. She loves to write and wants her blogs to feel like you are having a conversation with a long time friend. You can find her on Instagram @ladymo91 and @journeywithmo where you can see all her adventures with life, food, and travel.