A new season in Michigan has arrived—and with it, a new wave of emotions, challenges, and perseverance. Change doesn’t just live in the weather; it lives in us. And even in the middle of it all, there is still opportunity—to grow, to learn, to love. But sometimes, we have to choose to see that through lenses clouded by tears, fear, and doubt.
A few weeks ago, I lost one of my favorite people—my grandma. She was 82 and full of stories that made life feel lighter, funnier, and more meaningful. She had a way of reminding me how important the people around us truly are—family, friends, connection.
I always knew this was a loss I would face someday. I just never expected it to come so quickly, so unexpectedly.
And if I’m honest, the hardest part hasn’t just been losing her—it’s been living through the grief.
There are moments where I feel steady, like I’m holding it all together. And then, within seconds, everything shifts. A flash of her in that hospital bed rushes in and suddenly overshadows the beautiful memories I’m trying so hard to hold onto.
Grief doesn’t ask permission. It doesn’t arrive gently. It comes in waves—sometimes quiet, sometimes overwhelming—and all you can do is feel it, even when you wish you didn’t have to.
At the same time, my body has been facing its own set of challenges. With a new diagnosis of snapping hip syndrome, I’ve had to learn how to walk differently—again. As if the way I already move through the world wasn’t enough of a lesson in adaptation.
It was another reminder that life can change in an instant.
And in a different way, I found myself grieving again—this time, the version of my body that moved a little more freely, with a little less pain. Funny how the same word shows up in different places… but carries the same weight.
But through all of this, I’ve learned something—maybe the most important lesson in my 34 years:
Give yourself the grace to feel what you need to feel.
And when you’re ready, let those emotions shape you—not into someone weaker, but into someone stronger. Strength doesn’t always come from where you expect it. Sometimes, it’s built quietly in the middle of the hardest seasons.
And no matter how it shows up… it still counts.
