I know most of us have dealt with the loss of a loved one at some point in our lives; it's hard and, in some cases, excruciating to overcome. When we deal with the loss of a loved one, we often hear people say that we will go through different stages of grief until we reach acceptance. The truth is, when in pain, it is very hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel; instead, we see an obscure path full of mist and pain.

But like everything in life, pain slowly fades, letting us breathe more lightly and allowing us to cherish all those precious moments we shared with those special beings. It’s never easy to let go, and the pain never goes away, or at least not completely. The pain remains seared in our souls, but with less intensity. Four years ago, while I was still in high school, my uncle Jaime was diagnosed with a severe case of cirrhosis, meaning his liver was no longer functioning properly. The doctors were very clear in letting my family know that his chances of surviving were very rare, and they made us understand that we had to prepare for the worst. At the time, I understood that I had to leave my fears aside and remain strong for my uncle, but especially for my dad. The bond he had with his brother was like nothing I’ve ever seen. Before, they were so close, and they always had each other’s backs, even if they were upset with each other. I automatically knew that my dad would want to appear strong for his family, but deep inside, he was hurting, maybe more than any other family member. I made myself be that shoulder that my dad could rely on when he felt he was running out of strength.

Without a doubt, it was a very pivotal time in my life; not to mention how challenging and painful it was for me to lose my uncle and to also see my dad lose his brother. You know, when they tell you that death is practically imminent, and there is no way you can actually escape it, you try to prepare yourself for it, you try to condition yourself to believe that when the time finally comes, you will be ready for it. The truth is that you’re never ready. I know I wasn’t. It still hurt me and destroyed me.

The truth is that you can’t be prepared. Losing someone you love is never easy, especially when you have shared so many moments together. My uncle was the funniest and most loving person I have ever known, he was young and full of life. Sometimes today, I still wake up and think he is still alive, and in a sense, he is, because I still have him in my heart. Four years have passed, and I still remember him and love him just as much as when he was alive; some days are more bearable than others, but I have learned how to remember him without it being so painful.

So, I know by now you are wondering, what’s the actual way to deal with grief? Well, as you can see, I don’t have an answer for that. I believe that grief and how one deals with it is very personal. People have different ways of healing and dealing with their pain. There is no accurate answer for it, but I can tell you one thing: it always gets better. I just wanted to take this time to share my experience and to tell you that if you are going through a similar situation, you are not alone. Someone has been there and has felt exactly what you’re feeling. I invite you to celebrate life and remember that life is too short. We might as well enjoy it while we still can.