Part 6 of 6: A different person

I have been on an emotional rollercoaster ever since my father’s stroke. I have learned all about the stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. I think that I am still in denial. I tend to block it out or try not to think about it too much just to make it through my day. I had always imagined that when this happened I would be crying constantly, never get out of bed, and lose a lot of weight because I would not eat. But instead I have been keeping busy in order to cope. It still seems surreal. And every now and then it hits me that he is not coming back. And when I see a picture of him, I can’t help but smile, and sometimes cry.

What I have learned is that at any moment, everything can change and life is too short to live in regret. After all, the things that we may regret have taught us life lessons. We need to make the most of things, and remember that every thing happens for a reason. We go through experiences and they can either make us or break us. I believe that in the end it only makes us stronger. Life is short, so we should not take it for granted, but live each day as if it were our last. We never know when the end is near.

Ever since my father died I also feel like I have become a new person. I have a different outlook on life. I truly know how short life can be and I try to be a more positive person and have fewer regrets. Before, I would get upset or angry over miniscule things, but now I just let them go. I know that my father is watching over me and I am still trying to make him proud of his little girl.