28 DOSL- Kate 2023

I am Vibrant

“The past few years have been filled with change. Some really beautiful growth and evolution as a person, but also with some of the toughest challenges. I had to learn how to navigate through life with grief. Grief is hard. Like really hard.

For a time it’s really all-consuming. After my loss, I felt everything and nothing all at once. It’s all numbing while the most intense rollercoaster of emotions. It takes hold of your mind and your physical body. For some time, it had a tight grip on me - I couldn’t see the end. It was a lot of dark. And with this intense guilt came an equal amount of shame.

But as you move through guilt and shame you need to take the time to step back and sit with it. When I sat in my grief I felt myself “hiding.” Less laughing, and singing. Less dancing, and being free and silly. The bubbles had all popped when it came to my “bubbly” personality. I was just there. Being still.

Slowly I feel like I’ve been coming back to life. With every season I’ve shed more layers of grief and guilt, coming back to the vibrant person I once was. “

I chose vibrant as my affirmation because I finally feel like I am in a place where I've moved through the grief and now away from it. Days moved from grey and dull to being filled with life and color again. My personality felt like it was waking up, and softening for that matter. Life is fun and silly and full again. I feel like I am vibrant again.” - Kate

© All images copyright of Shelah Riley