There comes a point when you grow tired of the weight. You realize that not everything has to reside in the space of grief at the same time—or even at all. And so, you chase joy.

Take throw pillows, for instance: You can put as many as you want on the bed.

And you no longer feel the need to keep the peace when it comes to the thermostat: 

You have nurtured to the surface other, more meaningful parts of you–like building deeper relationships with family and friends: 

You’ve created spaces where your breath can settle:

You are doing things that make you happy:

And pushing yourself to be uncomfortable:

You’ve empowered yourself with independence and self-care:

You’ve experienced the sweetness of vulnerability, humility, and imperfection that come with being a single parent–and you’ve learned to trust yourself in this role: