My significant other and I experienced 2 deaths of people who were close to us these past two weeks. It was pretty much one after the other, so it's been a down few weeks. He experienced the death of his biological dad, whom he just recently got to know and love, while I lost one of my close friends who was supposed to be at our wedding next month. We both grieve differently. He likes to heal by himself where I prefer to mourn while going about my routine. Both of these deaths have brought us closer and made both of us appreciate our lives and those still with us. Never "get used" to having someone or something in your life because one day they/it won't be there.

Losing a parent no matter what age brings a different kind of hurt. I've witnessed my mom and my fiance' going through that and it's not easy. People experience grief differently. My mom had us around her the week of the funeral and had us handle different tasks so she wouldn't get overwhelmed. My brother's, Fiance and I would have different tasks with different parts of the funeral while my dad and mom would handle the paperwork. It's always good to have people around you to support you at your lowest point. My fiance is different. His dad lived in Brasil and passed away there. Due to the politics here, he can't go "home" to go to his own father's funeral because of his transition.

While experiencing death is the hardest challenge to go through, it brings out your appreciation for those around you. During this time, you tend to worry most about those who you don't want to leave. Those who could say their farewells are blessed because you can mentally prepare for your loved one's departure. It's those whose death came as a surprise that often tears us apart down to the core. My fiance just got to know his biological dad after years of being in his wonderful adopted family. To get to know someone who only recently came into your life but was part of bringing you into this life can tear you apart. We were working on plans to visit them in Brazil when we could work out the paperwork.

Honestly, you need to hug your family members every chance you get. Don't forget to have sympathy for those who are mean to you because you don't know what they are going through. Appreciate the small things and hold on to the memories and those who surround you. The biggest part of grief is regret. Make sure you let everyone know your feelings, so you don't regret not letting them know because death is not curable. Death affects all ages and life situations. Whether if you have a mansion or a shack, we all go back to the earth. Don't forget to give thanks for the breath in your lungs and the ability to wake up every morning.