The Weight of Loss + The Weight of Responsibility

There’s this silent expectation I felt:
Be strong for your family.
Don’t fall apart in front of the kids.
Keep being dependable.

And Then One Day I Broke Down in a Parking Lot

Since my dad passed, it’s been a mix of emotions.

Some days I cry.
Some days I don’t feel anything.
Some days I get through the whole day smiling—joking with my kids, going to work, folding laundry—without even thinking about him.

And then there are days like that one at the gym.

Grief Isn’t Just Sadness—It’s Fatigue

Grief isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s bone-deep exhaustion.
Sometimes, it’s forgetting what day it is.
Sometimes, it’s avoiding the people who mean well because you don’t have the strength to explain why you're still not “over it.”

I used to think healing had a rhythm. A roadmap.

But grief has taught me this:

There is no clear path—only moments of courage disguised as small beginnings.