Category Archives: 2026

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A Year of Grief: Remembering My Brother

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One year.

Twelve months. Fifty-two weeks. Three hundred and sixty-five days since my little brother left this world, and somehow it still doesn’t feel real.

People say that time heals. I don’t know if that’s true. What I do know is that time teaches you how to carry heartbreak. It teaches you how to get up, go to work, smile, answer questions, and move through life while carrying a pain that never truly leaves.

Losing my brother has been the biggest heartbreak of my life.

I’ve dealt with death before. I’ve lost my dad. I’ve lost my grandparents. I’ve experienced the sadness, the funerals, the difficult goodbyes, and the empty spaces left behind by people you love.

But this loss has been different. This loss has shaken me to my core in a way that none of those losses ever did.

Maybe it’s because he was my little brother. Maybe it’s because he was only 41. Maybe it’s because his death feels so unfair and so wrong. Whatever the reason, there is a part of me that feels permanently changed by losing him.

There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him.

Sometimes it’s a memory that makes me smile. Sometimes it’s a picture, or a random thought that catches me off guard. Other times it’s the painful realization that he’s gone and that I can never text him or hear his voice again.

The grief is always there. Some days it’s quieter than others, but it’s always there.

One of the hardest things to live with is the guilt.

The endless questions that circle through my mind.

Could I have done more? Could I have helped in some way that would have changed the outcome?

I know those questions don’t have answers, but that doesn’t stop me from asking them.

And then there is the anger.

The anger that life can be so unfair.

The anger that there are people in this world who hurt others, who waste their lives, who seem to leave destruction wherever they go, and yet they continue on. Meanwhile, my brother, with so much life still ahead of him, was taken at just 41 years old.

It feels impossibly young because it was.

He was supposed to have more time.

He was supposed to have more birthdays, more memories, more experiences, more life.

He was supposed to be here.

Most days, I function well enough. Life has a way of keeping us busy. There is work, family, responsibilities, errands, and a thousand little distractions that fill the hours.

But grief is patient.

It waits until the day is over.

It waits until the house is quiet.

It waits until there is nothing left to focus on except your own thoughts.

And that’s when I miss him the most.

When it’s finally time to shut off my brain at night, the tears still come.

A year later, they still come.

Sometimes I wonder if talking to someone would help me process everything that I’ve been carrying. But even then, I don’t know how I would explain it.

I don’t know how to put into words how deeply this continues to hurt.

How do you explain what it feels like to lose someone who was supposed to be part of your entire life?

How do you explain the guilt, the anger, the sadness, that all exist together?

The truth is, I’m not sure I can.

What hurts most isn’t just losing the person he was. It’s losing all the years we were supposed to have.

We were supposed to grow old together.

We were supposed to be the siblings who shared family milestones, laughed about childhood memories, and complained about getting older. We were supposed to be there for each other through all of life’s chapters.

I was supposed to watch him turn 50, then 60, then 70.

That was the future I always imagined.

And that future was never supposed to be taken away.

As painful as this anniversary is, I don’t want today to be only about loss. It’s also about love.

Because grief exists only where love existed first.

My brother was loved.

He is loved.

A year may have passed, but that hasn’t changed. I carry him with me every day. In my thoughts, in my memories, in my tears, and in the quiet moments when I wish more than anything that he were still here.

One year without him feels impossible.

And yet somehow I’ve survived it.

Not because I’ve moved on, but because I’ve learned that loving someone doesn’t stop when they’re gone.

❤️

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Life with Two Senior Cats and a Kitten

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Our household is a little unique. I share my home with Lynx, who is almost 19, Kitty Mojito, who is 14, and Nyxie, our 8-month-old kitten. The age gap alone makes for some interesting dynamics, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Living with senior cats means accepting that medications, vet appointments, and careful monitoring are part of daily life. Both Lynx and Kitty Mojito have health issues, so our days are often structured around pills, liquids, special diets, and keeping an eye on how they’re feeling. It can be a lot to manage, but after a while it simply becomes part of the routine.

We’ve also had to make adjustments around the house to help them stay comfortable. Their needs have changed as they’ve gotten older, so we’ve adapted right along with them. Favorite resting spots need to be easier to reach, and their comfort is always a priority.

In the recent months, Lynx has developed some peeing issues, which has led to the ongoing adventure of pee-proofing our furniture. Waterproof covers, washable blankets, furniture protectors, and a lot of laundry have become normal parts of life. It’s probably not the interior design aesthetic I would have chosen, but when you have a cat as special as Lynx, you do whatever you need to do to keep him comfortable.

Then there’s Kitty Mojito.

If she had a vote, she would absolutely choose to be an only child. She’s never been particularly fond of sharing her space with Lynx, even after 7 years, and when Nyxie arrived a few months ago, she made it very clear that another sibling was not on her wishlist. Kitty Mojito spends much of her time looking mildly offended by the existence of the other cats. She tolerates them, but only because she has accepted that her humans are determined to keep making questionable decisions on her behalf. Deep down, she believes all attention, treats, and comfortable sleeping spots should belong exclusively to her.

And then there’s Nyxie, who brings enough energy for all cats combined.

At eight months old, she’s curious about everything, loves everyone, and approaches life with endless enthusiasm. While the senior cats are focused on naps and maintaining their routines, Nyxie is busy exploring, playing, and finding new ways to keep us entertained. She has brought so much joy and laughter into our home, and her affectionate personality makes it impossible to stay stressed for long.

Despite the challenges that come with caring for senior pets, I feel incredibly lucky. There is something special about helping cats through every stage of life, from kittenhood to their golden years. My days are filled with medication schedules, furniture protection, and senior cat care. They are also filled with zoomies, purrs, cuddles, and laughter.

Life with Lynx, Kitty Mojito, and Nyxie can be messy, chaotic, and occasionally exhausting. But it’s also filled with an unbelievable amount of love. I am so grateful I get to be their mama and I wouldn’t change a single thing. ❤️

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Sitting With Grief, Seven Months Later

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It has been seven months since my brother died, and I’m still struggling to understand why the grief hasn’t eased the way I expected it to. I was told it would get better with time, that the pain would soften. But it hasn’t. It still shows up unexpectedly, heavy and consuming, and I don’t know how to deal with it any more now than I did in the beginning.

His life was heartbreakingly short, yet his absence feels endless. Some days I function almost normally; other days the loss feels brand new. Alongside the sadness is guilt—guilt for continuing to live, for having moments of happiness, and for feeling like “moving on” would mean leaving him behind. The idea of moving on feels impossible, but staying stuck in grief hurts just as much.

While still navigating this loss, I find myself facing another kind of grief. My cat, Lynx, is almost 19 years old, and I know his time is coming. Even though he’s only been with us for seven years, it feels like we’ve had him for all eighteen. He is deeply woven into our sense of home, and the thought of losing him feels overwhelming, especially when I’m already carrying so much grief.

This anticipatory grief has me mourning before the loss even happens. I watch him slow down and feel a constant ache in my chest, wondering how I’m supposed to prepare myself when I barely feel able to cope now. I want to stay present with him, but fear keeps stealing moments I wish I could simply enjoy.

I don’t have answers. I don’t know how to grieve, how to move forward, or how to prepare for what’s coming. What I’m slowly learning is that grief may not get better—it gets carried. It exists alongside love, memory, and fear, shaping us in ways we never asked for.

For now, all I can do is take things day by day. I can miss my brother deeply, love Lynx fully, and admit that I don’t know how to do this without giving up. Maybe that, for now, is enough. I suppose grief is the price of loving someone so deeply – and the proof that you were lucky to have them.

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The Adventures of Kitty Corner: Perfect for Animal Lovers

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The Adventures of Kitty Corner is a warm, adventurous, and compassion‑driven chapter‑book series aimed at readers aged 7–10. Written by award‑winning children’s author Natalie Knox, the series follows Lucy, a young girl who moves to a new town and discovers friendship, purpose, and plenty of furry excitement through a local feral cat colony. 

Knox’s series shines with heartfelt storytelling, gentle adventure, and an uplifting focus on kindness toward animals. Set under the sunny skies of southern Spain, each story blends light suspense with meaningful lessons about empathy, responsibility, and community. The books are short, accessible, and filled with the sort of small‑scale stakes that feel big and important to young readers—lost kittens, mysterious trespasser cats, unexpected dangers, and tricky rescue situations.

Young animal lovers, especially cat‑obsessed readers, will find the series irresistible.

At its core, the series explores friendship, belonging, and caring for animals in need. Lucy’s loneliness after moving to a new town, followed by her growing confidence as she bonds with neighbors and the cat colony, feels authentic and comforting for readers facing similar life changes.

Each book features a self‑contained storyline:

  • Book 1: A Risky Rescue – Lucy must help save a pregnant cat and her kittens trapped in a dangerous spot.
  • Book 2: A Tricky Trespasser – A mysterious white cat shakes up the colony with bullying behavior. Lucy investigates why.
  • Books 3–5 – A Deadly Danger, A Frightful Foe, and A Chilly Challenge continue the mix of suspense, mystery, and compassionate problem‑solving.

This structure makes the series great for emerging readers transitioning into chapter books.

Knox subtly introduces children to concepts like caring for feral cats, safe animal handling, and the importance of managing cat populations (including mentions of neutering—though not in depth). This makes the books a gentle entry point for conversations about responsible pet care.

The Adventures of Kitty Corner is a delightful, wholesome, and gently adventurous chapter‑book series that gives young readers a heartwarming look at animal care and community kindness. Natalie Knox writes with sincerity, empathy, and a clear love for cats.

If you know a young reader who loves animals—or one who’s just beginning to explore chapter books—this series is a wonderful pick. Check out more about this series on https://kittycornerbooks.com

Please enjoy the images of the REAL Kitty Corner!

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How Cats Teach Us to Set Goals Better

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Goal setting is often described as a serious, structured process—lists, deadlines, and measurable outcomes. But sometimes the best way to understand it is by looking at it from a very different angle.
Say… from the floor. Preferably while staring at a sunbeam.

Let’s explore goal setting from two perspectives: a human trying to build a meaningful life, and a cat who has already mastered it!

For humans, goal setting is about direction. We set goals to grow, improve, and move closer to the life we imagine for ourselves.

Humans tend to:

  • Think long-term (“Where do I want to be in five years?”)
  • Break goals into steps
  • Track progress
  • Feel motivated—and sometimes overwhelmed

A well-set goal gives structure. It turns vague hopes into clear intentions:

  • I want to get healthier becomes I’ll exercise three times a week.
  • I want to do better in school becomes I’ll study 30 minutes every day.

From the human point of view, goals are about purpose. They help us stay focused when motivation fades and remind us why effort matters.

Now imagine goal setting as a cat.

A cat’s goals might look like this:

  • Sit in the warmest spot in the house ☀️
  • Obtain food (again)
  • Knock object off table for science
  • Nap deeply and without regret

Cats don’t write these goals down. They embody them.

From a cat’s perspective:

  • Goals are immediate and clear
  • There is no guilt about rest
  • Persistence is natural (meow until food happens)
  • Failure just means trying again later

A cat doesn’t worry about yesterday’s missed nap or tomorrow’s meal. The focus is on what matters right now. And somehow, the goals still get met.

Cats may not use planners, but they understand a few things humans often forget:

  1. Rest is part of progress
    Cats nap constantly—and still manage to be fully functional (and dramatic). Humans often burn out by ignoring rest, even though it fuels long-term success.
  2. Confidence matters
    Cats act like they belong everywhere. Approaching goals with quiet confidence—even before you feel “ready”—can make a big difference.
  3. Adjust without self-judgment
    If a cat doesn’t catch the red dot, they don’t spiral into self-criticism. They simply wait for the next chance.

If cats ever decided to attend a goal-setting workshop, they might benefit from:

  • Planning ahead (food doesn’t magically appear… usually)
  • Sharing goals (instead of staring until humans guess)
  • Accepting that not every goal involves snacks

But honestly, they seem pretty satisfied already.

The best approach to goal setting might live somewhere between these two perspectives.

From humans:
✔ Vision
✔ Structure
✔ Long-term growth

From cats:
✔ Presence
✔ Self-trust
✔ Rest without guilt

Set goals that move you forward—but don’t forget to pause in the sunlight once in a while.
After all, even the most ambitious human can learn something from a cat who knows exactly when it’s time to nap. 🐾

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New Year, New Beginnings: Moving Forward with Love

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As we step into a brand-new year, I find myself pausing in gratitude for everything the old one brought with it—the good, the difficult, and everything in between.

The past year was not without its heartache. Losing my brother is a pain that words can never fully capture, a loss that reshaped my world in ways I’m still learning to understand. Alongside that grief came other challenges, moments that tested my strength and my patience. There were days that felt heavy and uncertain, days when simply moving forward felt like an achievement.

Yet, as I look back, I also recognize that every experience carried a lesson. Each challenge taught me something about resilience, about love, about what truly matters. Even in the hardest moments, there were reminders of kindness, support, and the quiet strength that shows up when we least expect it. For all of that, I am deeply grateful.

Now, I welcome the new year with an open mind and an open heart. I’m choosing to move forward with hope, curiosity, and trust in what’s ahead. This year feels like a fresh page—one filled with possibility, healing, and growth.

I look forward to abundance in every sense of the word: abundance of peace, love, joy, good health, meaningful connections, and opportunities. May this new year bring clarity where there was confusion, light where there was darkness, and gentle reminders that even after loss, life continues to unfold in beautiful ways.

Here’s to honouring the past, embracing the present, and stepping into the new year with hope and gratitude. May it also bring many more kitty kisses and cuddles!