I wrote this around the time when grief and anxiety was hitting me hard

It was all compounded:  the pain from the end of my long term-relationship, the anxiety of living somewhere new and working somewhere new, the grief/anxiety from the close call of death with my fur-baby Tyson, the grief from losing my Uncle just a few weeks after that, and the stress/anxiety from dealing with the very real process of handling legalities since my Uncle did not have a will, did not have any beneficiaries, and did not have burial arrangements for himself.

The stress, anxiety, and grief built up and compounded finally manifested in physical symptoms in my body. Rest assured I am okay! (Thanks Doc!) However, I want to continue to be an advocate for the dark experiences.  Because without them, how can we truly grow strong and learn to appreciate the sweetness of the good?

This piece is dedicated to my late Uncle (who became an angel Feb 24, 2021), my Dog (who is thankfully still with us), and my late father (who became an angel in 2009). I hope these words bring validation, comfort, and grace to those experiencing very real struggle in the face of death.