People immerse themselves into the idea that life is forever — it’s not. It can be weird to remember, at those random moments, that one day it will end. It took some growing up to realize my parents won’t be taking care of me forever, or laughing with me. My first thing, once I get home, is to talk my parents ears off about my day – good or bad, and it always ends up with laughing.

Even after those thoughts, I faced reality once my grandma couldn’t say “I love you,” anymore. That’s when you fumble through all these questions of what could’ve been done differently, and what can I do now. I watched my grandma slowly deteriorate, until it was just too much. When I lost my grandma I felt like I watched her pass away two times – when she couldn’t remember me and when she was in her casket in February. I was distraught that I wouldn’t have the woman who raised me be on this earth with me anymore.

Watching my grandma leave this earth was a learning lesson – to make sure my family and I hold each other accountable to be able to watch each other grow. Ever since February, my approach with family has been more grateful than ever, whether it be mine or others. I put myself to be more open-minded about what others may be going through, especially when I feel like they may not deserve it at that moment.

Sometimes you may be annoyed at yourself or the world, but don’t take it out on the ones around you. You’ll rethink that moment in the future and wish it had never happened. Just take a step back, humble yourself and ask for help or for space, neither is wrong. If you’re the one receiving the anger from a loved one, don’t react, that’s what matters. Just give time for both sides to breathe, relax and reconnect. I realize that’s what matters most because when something bad overcomes them, you rethink every moment you’ve had with them — tendencies to rethink the bad ones mostly. The good is what we want to cherish when a bad moment occurs to a loved one.