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Dear chingonas,

This week, I lost my uncle, Miguel Osio, and it has been tough on my family. Losing him has been a painful reminder of how fragile life is—how you can have your loved one here one day, and the next, they are gone. I’ve already been mourning so much lately, and this news has forced me to reflect on loss in general.

No one really teaches us how to mourn our loved ones. We might learn to grieve those who are still alive but not part of our lives, but it's so different when you realize you'll never see someone again. It feels like one of my biggest fears—how time keeps moving, and we all grow older, inching toward that reality we can't escape: death.

While I’m not very familiar with death, I am very familiar with mental health. Mental illness runs in my family—schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, and more. I’ve watched family members sit in their pain for years, just like I did. Now, I’m learning to process everything I once tried to avoid.

The question that always seems to come up is: Why? Why does this happen? Depending on who you ask, you'll hear different answers. God has a plan, some say. But that answer makes me a little angry—this plan feels cruel. Others say it’s a test, a test of faith. I don’t know what’s true. Growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness, I was told that we may see our loved ones again in Paradise. Christians and Catholics believe they’re watching over us in Heaven.

I don’t know what to believe, but I hope my uncle is somewhere without pain, watching over us.

One thing I’ve noticed about our Latino culture is that we often don’t take time to heal. We keep moving, working, pushing forward, and doing everything we can to avoid falling apart. But sometimes, we need to sit with our feelings, even though it hurts. In the past, I might’ve turned to alcohol to cope, but now, I’m asking myself: How do I mourn him in a healthy way? I’m holding space for his memory, remembering the good things, and praying that God helps heal this hole in my heart.

We all process loss differently, but I want to remind you to give yourself permission to grieve. If you're feeling pain, it's okay to sit with it, to cry, to let yourself feel what you need to feel. That's how we heal.

In closing, I want to let you know that my Beginner Illustrator class is cancelled for this week. I apologize for any inconvenience, but this time is needed to focus on family and healing.

Thank you for your understanding and your continued support. I dedicate this newsletter to my uncle, Miguel Osio. May his memory bring us strength, and may we all find peace in our hearts.

With love and healing,
Viridiana