A time to be selfish

Last month, I flew back to Michigan to be with family, because a loved one was near death.

My loved one rallied. It was eight days of bedside visits, quiet laughter and ultimately a tender goodbye.

By the time I got into my rental car and finished sobbing, I had nothing left to give. I couldn't even share the beauty of that farewell, because certain memories lose their power the moment we try to put them into words.

So I let texts go unanswered. I let calls go to voicemail. With a touch of guilt at first, until I realized my friends were big enough to understand:

Sometimes a soul just needs some space. Space to heal, space to collect ourselves, space to treasure sacred memories in the silence of our own hearts.

Be the kind of friend who can give that space to others, including yourself.