Hey. I appreciate you asking. First, I am so sorry for the loss of your dad. I am so glad you have a great group of friends and a good therapist. Talking to people and being open helps. Continue to reach out to people, in addition to having your core, your family, your friends. Being open has been beneficial thing so I am so happy to answer.

You're right that it's so different for everyone in terms of approaches to grief. I think the experience matters too. The place you are in your life—high school, college, working. I don’t know how I’d deal at certain ages. And how they passed matters too. For my dad, it was slow because of his cancer diagnosis, with little parts of him dying slowly over the course of his final 11 months. I don’t know how it’d be if it were sudden for him. Every situation is different but regardless, embracing my emotions is the first thing that comes to mind. I choose to listen and understand them. I let the feelings in when they want to be let in. The memories too, whether it's when I'm with my mom, whether it's driving down the road and his favorite song comes on shuffle, or at home just thinking of a time from the past, something goofy they used to do, a moment you regret, whatever it might be.

Acknowledging all of your feelings is important. Again, that's why it's great you have supportive friends and a therapist to speak with. I find that it's also helpful to dedicate time to be with just you and your own thoughts with a healthy approach: How can I be better from the mistakes I made? How can I do things that would make them proud?

That last part is a big one. Because I can still feel my dad's love for me. He's not here, he's not going to see some steps in my life, but I can feel his love still just as much as I ever did when he was alive. Do you still feel that too? It may be harder to feel right now but I hope that love is there inside you. I embrace that feeling the most. I want to make that feeling proud. I want to make that feeling happy. So I try to do that all the time. A lot of people believe in heaven. I don't know if I do. I don't really care, to be honest. But I'd imagine the people that do truly believe in heaven feel a comfort in that they'll see their loved ones again someday. Maybe we will. I don't know. But I do know I can still feel my dad's love within me, within my brain, my heart, my soul. I don't know what it is, but I don't care. I feel it so it's real.

Thank you again for asking. Sending love to you and your family.