Member-only story
Stepping Up in the Face of Personal Tragedy
In hindsight, life’s most difficult periods may also be its most rewarding.
Author’s Note
As with so many of my other Medium pieces of late, this one is inspired by personal experience. I hope my readers will find some solace in its words.
Introduction
I have previously shared what I consider my life’s most meaningful losses with readers on this platform. Each passing consumed a piece of my soul, the size of each piece determined by the closeness of the individual relationship and the passage of time.
I lost my dad to a liver disease endemic to alcoholics 13 years ago, though he only drank one glass of wine each year during the Jewish holiday of Passover. Otherwise, he abstained from alcohol.
I lost many of my closest relatives from childhood, including one by suicide. A business associate likewise took his own life. Most of my adulthood closest friends are now also gone, one from what was called “an accidental drug overdose,” another from a drowning while saving his son, others from illness.
My dad died at 70. Close to 80% of the others listed above passed away before the age of 60. Over half didn’t reach 50.
