Life is not a bed of roses right now. Or is it really? I have always believed that we have control over our narrative. That itâs all about perspective and to look at the flip side when things seem hard. But some times, it just sucks. Death seems to surround us (globally and personally) when we arenât quite ready for it. Are we ever ready though? In the 3+ decades of my life, Iâve seen death and each time I look at it with different lens. The one large lesson that it keeps serving up to me is that every possession we have is material. Every physical item we own will become dust (fine, only if itâs biodegradable!) What remains among the living are memories and stories and feelings. Thatâs why my life goal has always been very simple - be kind and loving especially when it seems hard and towards anyone family friend or foe. Iâm suddenly reminded of this Maya Angelouâs quote that I always go back to when I feel rubbish about life - âPeople will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.â Feelings. They feel so immaterial sometimes. But they are real. And like flowers (like our desert rose pictures here) they can be blooming one day and wilting the next. And that is OK. It will bloom again. It takes work. Any gardener knows that roses donât bloom overnight. Tending the garden/soil, itâs a constant effort. This analogy struck me when I was reflecting about how important it is for us to tend to our mental health. And Iâm so glad to have flowers (literal and figuratively) in my life. Iâm bursting with gratitude for each one of you. Thank you family, friends and loved ones. đđ» đ #rumination #mentalhealth #mementomori #death #life #living #love #familyfirst https://www.instagram.com/p/CTnyPPPhIUf/?utm_medium=tumblr