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Happy November and Feliz Dia de los Mertos!!! Some of you may have noticed the Day of the Dead celebration on Thursday, and as this column comes out on November 2nd, (the official end day of the celebration), and because I attended my Grandfather’s memorial, it seemed an excellent topic for those of us with more time in front of us than behind us.

During the celebration, friends and families of the deceased celebrate their loved ones who have died. However, instead of a somber gathering, as is usually observed at funerals and memorials, the Day of the Dead is a celebration. The favorite food and drink of the deceased are brought to the graveyard and placed on the graves of those who are no longer physically present among their family and friends. There are parades and picnics and the graves are cleaned and decorated.

Although death seems very final, particularly to those of us who remain behind, I think that celebrating a loved one with laughter instead of tears is healthy and uplifting.
Part of growing up involves losing and/or growing apart from those we held close. As hard as it is to see a loved one die, this particular element of life is necessary. Without the knowledge that those we love will die, we would not appreciate the moments, people, and memories in our lives.

Small celebrations can be used to lift us up in day-to-day life as well, not just when you’re grieving one who is lost. If you wake up one morning on the wrong side of the bed (as can sometimes happen), and are grieving a bad test score, a nasty fight with a friend, or just the 3000 calories from the entire chocolate cake you ate the night before, go ahead and wallow a bit in the bad feeling. Then look in the mirror (yes actually look at yourself) and out loud remind yourself of how lucky you are to have another day to be alive and among your friends and family. Tomorrow is a new day, and we are fortunate that we will likely have hundreds of chances for the next days to be good one.

To those of you who may be feeling stuck, either in life or school or the ever-popular love, let yourself be stuck for the moment. You won’t be stuck forever. Take a breath and move forward.

Take a lesson from the Day of the Dead festivities: Celebrate those you love. Grieve, but not forever. Picnic on their graves each year, if only in your mind. Raise a glass in their memory, plant 20 marigolds or just eat their favorite food. Focus on moments that made you smile, or better yet ones that left your stomach muscles hurting because you laughed those big, out-loud, belly laughs together.