Somehow this is painful and reassuring at the same time. Time after time through life’s disappointments, losses and other painful events have struck. Every time I end up feeling as though the world has stopped and life as I know it should be over. I realize how dramatic that sounds but welcome to my humanity. I’m managing to grasp that even in the painful moments, life does go on.

As I write this, I want life to stop in my pain, but I know it isn’t realistic or healthy. Life continuing on has carried me through pain before and it will do so again. That’s the reassuring part – no matter how dark and empty we feel in any given situation, it will pass. Hurt and joy will both pass. We treasure the good times and wait for the rough ones to wash over us because they will move on.

Try not to slow the speed of life moving on in the dark moments; let it carry you to the brighter day. Revel in the happy times and always hold on to the hope for what tomorrow will bring. Life goes on.

Sarah Deats

Sarah Deats is the Arizona Outpatient Support Services Manager at RI International and the Hope Inc. Stories Inspiration Engineer. Her goals are to make a connection with everyone that she can while building community, spreading hope, and sparking change. She believes that while life may not be easy, it is never lived alone.