Love, Grief, and Finding Happiness

  • The toe incident

    It was the night before mediation with my dad—a mediation over our mother’s estate. The middle of COVID had already dragged everything out for months, and now the weight of it was finally crashing down on me. My anxiety was suffocating, a constant buzz in the back of my mind that I couldn’t quiet. So,…

    J. B. Pitman

  • Forest of grief

    As I wander through grief—a forest you’re simply forced to live in—it feels as though there’s no clear path, just a constant attempt to find your way. In my own journey, I’ve tried to be there for friends who have lost parents, reaching out to them regularly. When someone so important dies, it can feel…

    J. B. Pitman

  • Holiday

    If you had asked me in 2017 what my favorite holiday was, I would have said Thanksgiving without hesitation. I loved being surrounded by family, giggling with my cousins, and cherishing those moments together. But if you ask me now, I’m not sure I have an answer. So much has changed—losses, finding out about our…

    J. B. Pitman

  • Small business sadness

    It’s Saturday—Small Business Saturday, apparently. I’ve been sick for over a week, and my sister-in-law (or whatever you call someone divorcing your brother) dropped off my nephew. He carried a mix of sadness and unease, scared of the dogs I was watching through Rover. His life has been full of changes these past couple of…

    J. B. Pitman