My Parents, My Strength

Hay que vivir la vida día por día y siempre salir adelante.

With my dad and mom on Christmas Eve at their home in Corona, California, taken on 12/24/18.

I feel extremely fortunate to have such amazing, strong and loving parents. I've become a lot closer to them in the last several months since my friend Andy's death. They have almost been like my wonderfully attentive therapists, listening to me with such immense love and concern. In listening to them I’ve also learned a lot about them that I never knew before - several of their challenges and hardships that have shaped who they are today. I realized how strong, resilient and simply amazing they really are. Andy's suicide has been the most difficult experience of my life. I wouldn't have overcome the emotional hardship without their loving support. I definitely feel like a stronger person now as a result of it. As they would say, "Hay que vivir la vida día por día y siempre salir adelante," which means "we have to live life day by day and always go forward.” I feel inspired to ask myself every day, what may I do today to go forward?