A Letter For When You're Feeling Sad

Dear (your name),

Sadly it happens. We all feel sad sometimes. But trust me, there will be brighter days. I hope everything clears up soon, and that whatever it is that is going on is solved. I also hope that you and your family are safe and healthy as well. I really, truly hope that everything works out. There will be good days and bad days and while we don't like the bad days (in fact some days are so bad we want to bang our head against a wall c:) that's what makes us cherish the good days even more. So hopefully after this storm you can relax in the sun for a while!!!

And sometimes it helps to look on the bright side of things. A while ago I found a hatchling. The next morning she wasn't doing so well and turned out to have a yeast infection, or Sour Crop so she could not fully digest her food. All of the food I fed her was no use, for she was really getting none of that nutrition. So I tried to have her regurgitate to clear out the blockage that had now hardened but it was a failure. The next morning, the little baby house sparrow I'd found was dead...I was absolutely DEVASTATED!!! I'd done everything I could!!! I let her lay on a hot water bottle, 90 degrees precisely, and I'd fed her dog food soaked in water, and I'd placed her outside in a shoebox, waiting for the mother bird to retrieve her...but she never came. And I soon came to the conclusion that because the nest was in a vent, there was no way little Maya could've possibly fit through the tiny crack and escaped on her own, or pushed open the door at her size. Her mother had INTENTIONALLY KICKED HER OUT AND LEFT HER TO DIE!!! What was even WORSE, she never came back for her, not even to feed her!!! But there was a reason...little Maya had an infectious and fatal disease (to birds as humans don't have crops, they have stomachs...so you've heard...) and she was trying to keep it from spreading to the other birds. Little Maya had been destined to die. There was nothing that could save her. Not even a vet could operate a surgery on such a tiny bird. So I buried her with a feather I found from her mom. I know her life is over and that insects will now devour her tiny, lifeless body, but I can't help to think what could've been. What could've been if I was more experienced.

But even though I was devastated and knew I could never bring her back, it took a while but as I was sobbing while petting my dog I finally realized something. I still had Camelia!!! Her life was not over!!! So I decided I should spend all the time I have left with her and stop grieving over Maya, for it was no use and wasn't beneficial to anyone including Maya.

Life will pull you to the ground. It will put so many challenges your way. This world is full of horrible people and things, let's face it. So we can't always expect happiness to come from life. We are capable of making life happy for ourselves. Life has wonderful aspects to it as well. While we may not be able to change the bad things/people out there, we can change our own mentality and how we see the world. Because it helps A LOT when it comes to sticky situations. So please just take a deep breath and try to think of happy things and try to make happy moments in your family's life as well!!! I know none of this information is anything new, but I just thought I'd remind you so that hopefully you could feel better!!!

Sending love and wishes your way!

Sincerely,

Emily