1. ⁠Understanding that I was holding on to the sadness because: a) I felt like letting the sadness go would be an insult to my dead parents b) my grief brain told me that the sadness was what connected me to them c) being sad and depressed had been my status quo and changing felt scary 2. ⁠Also hearing my mom’s loving but practical voice in my head saying “ well that’s dumb. I don’t want you to be sad every time you think of me. Go live the life you deserve.” (2/3)