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My Reflections on a Video about Loss and Love
I wasn’t sure if it was because of the upcoming holidays or the winter blues taking over. But every year at this time, I get really sad thinking about my dad and how much I miss him. Then this dark, self-sabotaging thought creeps into my mind: Martha, he died 17 years ago. That was a long time ago. You should be over it.
But as therapy has taught me, grief isn’t linear. Sometimes, it just hits. And when it does, it’s okay.
This lesson was solidified when I watched a sweet and wholesome video that a friend posted on Facebook a few days ago. In the video, Elmo asked Spider-Man actor Andrew Garfield how he was doing. Like many people, Andrew hesitated to express his feelings, not wanting to be a burden. But Elmo helped him feel more comfortable by stating that he genuinely cared and wanted to listen. So Andrew admitted that he missed his mom a lot because she recently passed away.
Elmo responded with empathy, stating, “Elmo always feels really sad when he misses somebody.” Then Andrew explained that it’s okay, and sadness can be “a gift” because it means you love and miss someone. He also said missing his mom’s affection makes him “feel closer to her.”
The following quote by Andrew further shows how missing someone can evoke sadness and happiness simultaneously:
