My dad died on Valentine’s Day from a cancer in his brain that he fought for a year and a half. I’ll talk about that more one day, but what I want to say now comes from the buildup and the fallout. What I want to say is not about the suffering and turmoil that I watched my dad and my family experience for that year and a half, or the milestones we hit every day that I never mentioned, like the last day he had ice cream or went outside. I want to talk about him and I will. But today, I want to talk about the aftermath. People don’t know what to say about death and dying. They tell you they’re sorry and they could never do what you’re doing, they tell you how strong you are and graceful you’re being, admire how you’re “back to work” or “still able to have fun”. Grievers are told time and time again, nobody knows what the right thing to say is. And we have grace. Giggle it off and nod our heads, tell them thank you and it’s okay. Because it is okay. They aren’t doing anything wrong t...
Too mild, too careless, too careful, too caring, too honest, too drunk, too cold, too sensitive, too goofy, too serious, too clingy, too independent, too shy, too extravagant, too lazy, too high maintenance, too organized, too fearful, too reckless, too confrontational, too difficult, too bossy, too frugal, too indecisive, too smart, too dumb, too social, too sad, too much attitude, too fake, too chunky, too skinny, too many Instagram posts, too filtered, too outspoken, too religious, too healthy, too much. Just too much. For me? Too opinionated, too loud, too big of plans for my future, asks too many questions, says the same thing too many times. You will always be too something for someone. Even the people I love most in my life are too much of something. One time, me and this girl really weren't getting along and I called my other friends for backup; you know, seventh grade things, and they all told me, "Haleigh, you're being too dramatic," and that it was too muc...