This summer, I endured beautiful things with beautiful people! and I faced heartbreak with the ones who held me close through it. I’ve learned more in these past few months than I ever expected to. I like to describe it as the best and worst summer of my life. At the start of it all, my dad told me I should apply for a job...and I listened. That advice led me straight into the work environment I’d always dreamed of. My boss and I like to say it feels like he paved the way for my future before he left. I reconnected with hometown friends, caught up with my college friends(because let’s be real, I wasn’t making it through summer without them), and spent more intentional time with my family than I probably ever have. I just felt pulled to be near them. and now, looking back, I’m so glad I followed that feeling. And then, I lost my dad. But the way he raised me, kept me grounded. He always taught me to ask, “What did I learn from this?” So here’s what I’ve learned: — Be intentional with your words and actions. Even something as small as telling someone you’re proud of them can mean everything. — In the grand scheme of things, most things don’t matter as much as we think they do. — And when grief comes, you’ll see clearly who chooses to show up. On the hard days, the “good” days, and everything in between. You’ll know who keeps you close. Community matters. Here’s to growth, to the people who stay close, and to the man who lit the way forward. 🤍