Dear Diary: Just Hold On

There’s a certain kind of grief that doesn’t always come from death. Sometimes, we mourn the ending of something we loved deeply a job, a relationship, a version of ourselves, or even the end of a chapter we weren’t ready to close. And while the world may expect us to keep moving, to sit still in our pain can sometimes feel like the only thing we can do.

But here’s the truth: sitting still for too long can be unhealthy for us. Healing doesn’t mean pretending we’re okay. It means acknowledging the pain while also choosing, every day, to take one small step forward. Even if that step is just lifting our eyes to see something beautiful... sunlight pouring through the window, the laugh of a stranger, the comfort of a favorite song.

We often get so consumed by our sorrow that we miss the beauty trying to break through. Healing is a journey. It doesn’t happen overnight. But we can’t give up on ourselves just because it hurts.

I know it’s hard, unbearably hard. That deep, aching emptiness can make every day feel like a fight with your own mind. The sadness is heavy. It can feel like it will never end.

But then something happens. A lifeline appears. A friend reaches out. A quote hits you in just the right way. An article stirs something in your spirit. The universe, in its quiet compassion, throws you a rope.

Grab it.

Hold on tight.

Pull yourself out, inch by inch, breath by breath. That lifeline might just be the thing that saves you. It might not look like much at first, but it’s enough.

It’s enough to get you through this day.

It’s enough to begin again.

Just hold on.

I love you!

With gratitude,

Diana Gonzalez-Lehboub