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In a very unfortunate and all-too-familiar turn of events, my mom passed away in early September. Her loss was an unexpected one, but I consider her passing to be the end of what I’ve always considered “Bonus Time.” In 2004, my dad donated one of his kidneys to my mom in a nearly-perfect-match transplant. As their middle school-aged son, I knew that I could lose both of my parents that day. My dad’s act of selflessness gave all of us "Bonus Time” for the next twenty one years. I’ve had the pleasure of reaping the joys of the time made up in my head for such a long time that losing both of my parents back to back—albeit absolutely devastating and mentally, physically, and emotionally arduous—has been something I’ve been able to progress through nonetheless. I honor them with my actions, with my progress, and my love for life itself. Thanks to my mom for showing me how to be the best me I can be. If you’re in the mood to listen to two works I wrote for my parents’ lives and their passing, you can check out Forerunner and Descansos. On a very transparent but real note, I recently started taking antidepressants because of everything being far more than I can handle on my own. I’m doing okay, but sheesh, the last six months have been up and down and everything in between. I’m taking meds to help my mind and body reconnect with one another, and I am already experiencing benefits. If you feel like you need help with your mental health, know that there are options to help you. Speaking from experience, I highly recommend reaching out to a friend, a professional therapist, or a doctor to talk about solutions. You aren’t alone in this.
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