Bookish Brain

Tag: family

  • Grief and Gratitude: Words from Dad

    Grief and Gratitude: Words from Dad

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    by

    jessicareadsmanybooks
    in

    February is a month of honorific days as I remember my dad’s birthday and mourn his death, which happened within eight calendar days of each other.  Dad has been gone for eight years now. I don’t believe what people say, that grief gets easier over time. Rather, I liken it to a patch of skin…

  • The Myth of Having It All Figured Out by 40

    The Myth of Having It All Figured Out by 40

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    by

    jessicareadsmanybooks
    in

    When we’re young, there’s this pervasive belief that by the time we hit 40, we’ll have everything sorted out. It’s a notion ingrained in us, perhaps from observing our parents or society’s expectations or all those movies we watched as kids. But, as we grow older, these assumptions don’t match up to reality. At least…

  • Lessons from Dad

    Lessons from Dad

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    by

    jessicareadsmanybooks
    in

    February 17, 2024, marked seven years since my dad died. It wasn’t unexpected. From 2011 to 2017, he faced health challenges that drained him, and it was difficult to watch this strong, robust man lose agency over his body. But, Dad had lived a long, full life. From his dedication to his family to his…