Magic Didn't Last

Since Sofia passed away, I’ve been exposed to an abundance of people who are grieving the loss of their loved ones. Either directly, through stories I’ve heard or things I’ve read. I’ve also been quite active trying to work on my own grief too. I’ve interacted with a grief counsellor, I’ve read books, listened to podcasts, watched videos and, very recently, joined a group session organized by Canuck Place. One of the most common behaviours I’ve observed among grieving individuals is their deliberate avoidance of visual reminders of their loss, which could potentially trigger emotional distress. For some, that might look like removing pictures in their house. For others, it might be avoiding places or people where memories are their most intense. It’s rational behaviour if you ask me. Even if you’re not grieving a loved one, everyone likely has a tendency to find ways to avoid things that might cause pain. Yet, for whatever reason, it hasn’t been my path. Instead, I’ve found myself putt...

After months and months of planning, we finally arrived in Mazatlan last Tuesday, November 5th. As I write this, it's been a week and, overall, it's been amazing. I'm currently sitting on our deck around 4:45pm while Carter and Sam attend a birthday party nearby. This time of day is incredible. The temperature is perfect and there's usually a gentle breeze as the sun starts its descent.  We live in a condo building that sits next to the hole 3 fairway of the golf course that snakes its way around the homes in the neighborhood. It's a 4 storey building and we are on floor 3. Only 7 units in total in our building so it's pretty quiet.  It's in a large gated community that has houses, townhouses and condos throughout. A lot of Sam's friends live within the same community too which is very nice. A couple of her friends, Elo and Maria Jose, have helped us a ton during our first week. Driving us around the city to grab groceries, household supplies, take Carte...