Grief and loss are difficult, tragic things. But if you’ll allow me to be terribly optimistic for a moment, I’d like to share something hopeful.
When my grandfather passed away, I was too young to really feel the gravity of the situation. But it helped me to get very close with my grandmother. My mom would tell me, “Your gramma lives alone now. You should give her a call.” This was the catalyst for what eventually blossomed into a deep and close friendship.
When my sister passed away, I was devastated. That loss could never be considered “good”, but I will admit that it has paved the way for some very close friendships. I have friends that are like family to me, and that is something I truly cherish. I think if she were still here, I wouldn’t have needed my friends to be family in quite the same way. So while the loss still affects me, I am grateful for what I have.
And now, my grandmother has passed away. Just today, an old friend sent me a private message expressing her condolences. Having this reason to contact me gave her an opening. She told me she wishes we could’ve gotten to know each other better, and that she really enjoyed meeting me. We’re making plans to get together and reconnect. What a sweet and positive thing to come out of a sad event.
It’s true what they say: when one door closes, another one opens. So stay open. Love fiercely. And keep your chin up. Sometimes good thing do come out of bad situations. We all need a little hope and optimism sometimes, and stories like this are rarely shared by someone we know. As much as I don’t like being overly personal on here, perhaps this post is exactly what somebody needed to see today.
