Spring is in the air, Easter and Passover have been celebrated with family and friends, but that special someone’s chair will be unoccupied. Having someone to talk to is the most important piece in healing.

As for me, I’m a closed book. I rarely talk about my feelings; most of the time people come to me to solve their problems. Having a therapist when dealing with a loss is key to understand everything you are feeling or thinking.

Picking a therapist is like picking a car; you have to have the right connection with them. I went through three therapists before I found the one. Yes, it may seem crazy but if I have to talk about my feelings to a total strangers I want to pick the right one.

We may not want to talk about how we feel about losing a loved one but in the long run, it’s the best thing for us. My therapist helps me a lot by letting me know that I overthink everything and that I need to relax, and also realize people don’t know how to act around someone who lost a parent or sibling and that’s it’s an awkward situation to talk about.

Before my dad passed away, therapy wasn’t for me, but I now realize that’s it’s a great thing and everybody should try it at least once. You will be surprised what you will learn about yourself.

We all have a family traditions for the holidays, and Easter for my Italian family is making ham and rice pies. It’s sad that my dad won’t be there preparing the ingredients and singing along with Frank Sinatra and making us laugh with his corny dance moves. But keeping the tradition alive is what my dad would want us to do.

Spending time with family is a great way to get closer with each other and also to talk to them about the loved one, to understand their needs during this difficult time. Our loved ones what us to be happy and to talk about them to someone we trust.

One step at a time, one foot after the other, everything will fall into place. Don’t take life for granted, because you never know when you’re going to say good bye.