February

Dear February,

In my life you have always been a reminder month.

A reminder of how short life can be when you allow it to sneak past you. Your 28 days begin as a leisurely amble and end in a breathless sprint.

A reminder of the people who I love and how real love is always so much more complex than teenage, idealistic me thought it ever could be.

A reminder of just what it will take to put into action all the dreams I conjured up in January.

But since 2015, you have been a different, more poignant reminder to me. A reminder of what I have in my family and what we have lost. A reminder of what a quiet personality can accomplish with silence and grit and determination and love. A reminder of the searing pain of loss. A reminder of the unifying strength of shared sadness. A reminder of who I am. Not just a reminder of who I love but a reminder of how I love.

So I thank you, February. For all those reminders and moments of reflection. Sometimes painful, sometimes joyous, but always necessary.

Until next time,

Yours,

Naliaka O.