Family is Everything
“There is no bad day that a good dance can’t fix”
On March 28, 2020, my family’s life was changed forever.
As we were dealing with the angst of the pandemic and stuck at home in quarantine, we learned of the unthinkable. My aunt, and my mom’s sister, unexpectedly passed away.
What went from a normal day as she was on a walk with my cousin, quickly turned into devastation.
While it still doesn’t make sense and the emotions are still raw, it really made me take a step back.
Death and tragedy is something we see all the time. But until it really hits home and takes someone you love, that’s when you feel the true sense of pain.
Our family was filled with sadness, anger, and a feeling of emptiness.
What can start as a normal day, can quickly reverse course.
The hardest thing to grasp is that you never know when it will strike.
These risks surround us on a daily basis.
We must remind ourselves how short life can be. It can be taken from us at any moment with no answer as to ‘why’.
We must celebrate and cherish the memories together.
For my aunt, family was everything to her, and it wasn’t just immediate family. Friends, and even strangers, were included in her definition of family.
All she wanted to do was help. To laugh, to live, and more importantly, to drink…
Family can drive you crazy, but they are blood. And when push comes to shove, they are undoubtedly the ones who will be in your corner and will support you.
Reach out to your family members, especially your elders. Even if relationships are strained, make an effort to talk to your family.
Everyone is busy, but that is no excuse. A 5-minute phone call can change the trajectory of someone’s week.
Be kind, thoughtful, and find a way to make a difference in someone’s day/life.
We are all on borrowed time, so let’s enjoy the journey together. Because at the end of the day, family is everything.
