Grief is an unavoidable part of life that we all experience at some point. It manifests differently for each person, and there's no way to fully prepare for it. Grief can be an immensely difficult and painful process.
I recently lost my best friend, Chalupa, who was my beloved dog. Chalupa had been my constant companion, helping me through life's challenges like becoming an empty nester and grieving the loss of my father. We shared countless adventures together, with me taking her everywhere I went. Over the past few years, Chalupa had been in and out of poor health, experiencing mysterious allergy attacks that led to bouts of aspiration pneumonia. Despite taking her to numerous specialists and spending tens of thousands of dollars, the vets were never able to pinpoint the cause of her health issues.
In Chalupa's final year, her sickness resulted in muscle loss, leaving her moving slowly. Chalupa couldn't even walk up the stairs to my art studio anymore. To help her enjoy what was left of her life, I bought a kayak so we could continue exploring the outdoors together. Shortly after, Chalupa passed away suddenly at home by my side. It was devasting and although I thought I was prepared I was not. Her death has left a huge void in my life. I did everything for her and spent most of my free time caring for and cherishing her. That girl was always by my side as I was by hers. Losing Chalupa has been one of the hardest things I've ever been through.
To help cope with the grief, I've started painting and sketching pictures of Chalupa from our adventures together. This creative outlet allows me to focus on the happy memories we shared, rather than the tragedy of her passing. Day by day, the process is helping to ease the heaviness in my heart. I call this Journaling Through Grief and it truly helps.
If you’re navigating similar feelings of loss, I encourage you to find your own outlet. Whether it’s writing, painting, or another form of creativity, allow yourself to express your grief in a way that feels true to you. Healing takes time, but through the memories we cherish, we can begin to find light in the darkness.
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