Dear humans,
I’m Alicia, a 21-year-old college student at Cal State Northridge, and this is my letter to all who have lost a loved one. It doesn’t matter how you lost your loved one, but what you have in common does matter. The loss of a loved one is what you all share.
I know that it feels as if the universe is punishing you for every little bad thing you’ve done—because you’re losing someone important to you, someone who was a huge part of your life. I know that it may feel like nothing will be the same without that person. Truth is, it won’t be the same. I know it feels like you will never get over this hurdle in your life. Truth is, you will. But it’s all a matter of time.
I know it’s difficult for people to show emotions sometimes. Maybe you’re used to presenting yourself with a tough exterior, or maybe you just don’t like being emotional in front of others. But at a time of grief, my advice to you is, let it out. And let it ALL out.
It’s probably just a human instinct to bottle up all your feelings sometimes, but you should always remember that expressing yourself and what you feel inside is healthy. Don’t be afraid to grief, and don’t be afraid to come off as “weak” to others because showing emotion does not make you less of a human and it certainly does not define you as someone who isn’t capable of being strong.
Also, don’t be afraid to turn to others for support. No one in life makes it anywhere without the support of someone important to them. Whether it being a mother, father, brother, sister, cousin or significant other; everyone at some point in their life has had a person in their life to motivate them or inspire them to reach for more, or move forward in their life.
I have recently had a huge loss in my family, and the pain in unbearable. I knew that letting him go was the best thing to do because truth is, he was suffering a lot and it was months of agony he had to deal with. It was years of sorrow he had been through. So, the way I see it is he was alive, but not living. Because to live means to be genuinely happy with your life and everything in it. I know that he was happy to be with my mother, sister and myself. But he was full of pain and misery in the inside because he was not enjoying life the way life is meant to be enjoyed.
I love you dad, forever and always. And, I hope wherever you are, you are reading this.
So, the last thing I have to say to you all is to remember that it will take time, and a lot of it, to overcome the pain you’re going through. But never forget that you all have someone to turn to during hard times like these. Don’t forget you are all strong and are all capable of moving on with life. Remember your loved ones in the times he or she was happy and nothing else. Most of all, remember the person will forever be with you, emotionally and spiritually.
