Give yourself grace

I know how hard it is to lose a parent. My mom lived with us for the last nine months of her life. She had a lot of health problems and needed more care than I could provide. She was the one who suggested moving in, but it was still a tough choice for me and my siblings. We took turns visiting her and making sure she was comfortable. It was heartbreaking to see her fade away. My brothers helped out occasionally, but it was mostly me and my sister Terry. The last two weeks, she didn't eat or drink anything. She had already left us in spirit.

We were exhausted. We had neglected ourselves.

When she passed away, we felt relieved that she was no longer in pain. She could finally rest and be with her loved ones.

Since then, we have all been trying to take better care of ourselves. I've been eating healthier, working out more, and focusing on my studio and dancing.

Life is full of bumps and bruises. Sometimes they are minor, sometimes they are major. But at the end of the day, you can look at yourself and be proud of what you did. You can forgive yourself and move on. When you have a goal, you have to be kind to yourself. It's just a small setback in your journey.