To say I've had a strange year would be a gross understatement. In order to save you all from an emotional vomit, let's just say....this year has been crap, tumultuous, confusing, scary...and ultimately liberating, uplifting and beautiful.
At the beginning of the year, I fell spectacularly in love. Like a little seed, things blossomed. Like all things that are living, we died. I'm a firm believer that nothing is a waste of time - that the people that come into our lives aren't just coincidences or cosmic screw-ups - they come to us to teach us something. With every great loss, something is gained.
I've been lucky enough to meet not just one, but three men this year who have absolutely transformed my life and the way I think about love, family, relationships and ultimately - myself.
Each has given me a new perspective and for that I will be eternally grateful. Just as their ages and nationalities have varied, so too have the types of relationships we've had. They have shown me how to laugh, live and love.
We must never mourn a broken heart, but process and understand what we have lost, let that go and then celebrate what we have gained. The other day, a new friend told me something he believes - something so beautiful I can't forget and must share it: ''Love is never lost, not even in death''.
My beautiful grandfather passed away in August, and while the family and community are mourning the loss, we are also celebrating. Pop, as he was affectionately known to everyone, was one of our home town's last surviving World War 2 veterans. A proud family man, he was the father of 8, grandfather of 14 and great-grandfather of 1. As the eldest female grandchild, it was an honour to speak at his funeral and I was touched (and terrified!) when I got up to speak and saw that there wasn't a spare seat in the church.
While funerals are sad occasions, they are also a wonderful chance for families to come together and catch up. Our family has spread out to different parts of Australia and the world and we very rarely find ourselves together all at once. It was fantastic to see all of my cousins again and we have a very special picture of almost all of us - something we haven't had in about 10 years.
So indeed, love is never lost, not even in death.
At the beginning of the year, I fell spectacularly in love. Like a little seed, things blossomed. Like all things that are living, we died. I'm a firm believer that nothing is a waste of time - that the people that come into our lives aren't just coincidences or cosmic screw-ups - they come to us to teach us something. With every great loss, something is gained.
I've been lucky enough to meet not just one, but three men this year who have absolutely transformed my life and the way I think about love, family, relationships and ultimately - myself.
Each has given me a new perspective and for that I will be eternally grateful. Just as their ages and nationalities have varied, so too have the types of relationships we've had. They have shown me how to laugh, live and love.
We must never mourn a broken heart, but process and understand what we have lost, let that go and then celebrate what we have gained. The other day, a new friend told me something he believes - something so beautiful I can't forget and must share it: ''Love is never lost, not even in death''.
My beautiful grandfather passed away in August, and while the family and community are mourning the loss, we are also celebrating. Pop, as he was affectionately known to everyone, was one of our home town's last surviving World War 2 veterans. A proud family man, he was the father of 8, grandfather of 14 and great-grandfather of 1. As the eldest female grandchild, it was an honour to speak at his funeral and I was touched (and terrified!) when I got up to speak and saw that there wasn't a spare seat in the church.
While funerals are sad occasions, they are also a wonderful chance for families to come together and catch up. Our family has spread out to different parts of Australia and the world and we very rarely find ourselves together all at once. It was fantastic to see all of my cousins again and we have a very special picture of almost all of us - something we haven't had in about 10 years.
So indeed, love is never lost, not even in death.
