Loving amidst loss

I got a call from my mom last Tuesday.

“I have some sad news. Aunt Liu passed away..”

It took a few minutes for her words to land.

I hadn’t seen Aunt Liu in years, but she was a second mom to me when I was growing up. My childhood memories are filled with camping trips we took together, her delicious homemade eggtarts, and her gentle encouragement as she taught me to draw. She built up my creative confidence and helped cultivate my passion for art - the foundation of my fulfilling design career.

I flew to her city the day after receiving the news, just in time to make it for her funeral service.

Her passing was unexpected. How fleeting life can be. I thought we’d have many more years together.

I can still remember the last time I saw her - smiling kindly at me in my parent’s living room, happy to meet my fiancé for the first time.

The collective grief is just starting to flow in. I see people around me processing it in different ways. Some are keeping busy. Others are putting on a brave positive face.

I’ve heard that the amount of grief we feel equals the amount of love we have for someone, so I choose to embrace this tidal wave of sadness. I allow the tears to flow and the heavy emotions to overwhelm me.

Eventually they pass, opening up heartspace to honour what’s most important - the beauty and fullness of a life well-lived.