Today I’m grateful for grief.

I almost didn’t write a gratitude today. My husband Tim lost his close cousin of the same age last night. And I lost a friend who I was blessed to know as family. I will write more about her after I process it all…but it did make me realize as I reflected today- the incredible and overwhelming emotion that is grief.

It’s an odd thing to write…grateful for grief? Grief is something so poignant and so potent. To have lost something or someone important and meaningful is one of the worst experiences I can imagine. At the same time, because of the grief- you realize how fortunate and blessed you were to experience such a person or moment.  

I’m lucky to know amazing people. I’m even more blessed to love extraordinary people. I also know to love someone may be to one day lose them and feel that breath stopping grief. And I also know, that I wouldn’t trade loving and knowing those people in for anything.

So today I’m grateful for the grief I’m feeling. Not because this amazing woman died, but because I was able to know and love her. 

Thank you dear Autumn for touching my life, Tim’s life, and the lives of all those who have known you.