Three months ago, my aunt passed away unexpectedly. It has been a difficult time for me and it is still hard for me to accept or understand why she was taken from us. Over the past three months, I have learnt several things which I thought would be worth sharing with you.
Grieving is a process
It takes time to heal, and things will never be the same. I have since realized that the reason why I have failed to accept this death is mainly because of the regrets I have.
I regret every moment I should have spent with her but committed to something else that was of no benefit. I also wish I had had a chance to do something for her, something I could actually sacrifice for her, but I procrastinated. And eventually, she was taken from me before I could do anything substantial for her.
Make Time for the people you love
Often times we take the simplest things for granted. There are times when we think of someone but just brush the thought aside and move on with our lives. I have since learnt that whenever you think of someone, make a call and check on them. Try your best to visit and spend as much time as possible together. It could be your last opportunity.
Sacrifice is not only about giving something of monetary value. You could sacrifice your time to visit someone. A simple text message may lift someone’s spirits. We all are busy chasing money, but let’s not be too busy to give our time to our loved ones. Trust me, you will be filled with regret when they are gone.
Tell you loved ones how much they mean to you
Remind your loved ones as often as possible that you love them. Imagine how you feel when someone tells you they love you, you feel needed and you are reminded someone out there appreciates you. There are times when the world seems to be crumbling, and no matter how many people you are around, you feel alone. A simple ‘I love you’ can brighten up someone’s day, and that simple line can change someone’s mindset from bad to positive.
Forgive
Families and friends argue. Every relationship has disagreements. One thing we should understand is that no one is perfect, and no one is ever going to do things exactly the way we want things to be done. Arguments will always be there. It is normal, we are human, and we will err at some point. What matters isn’t why we fight, the most important thing is how we are able to move past our mistakes and forgive each other. Let’s focus more on loving than on counting our grievances.
We will all leave this earth at some point. No one knows when they will leave. Always be prepared by being the best you can be. Be good to everyone. Love as much as you can. Be quick to forgive and do not take to heart when someone scolds you or speaks ill of you. Just move on with your life. Love always wins.
