It has been two years since my family’s life has changed. I was unaware on that Saturday evening two years ago. I was asked to escort my mother to West Virginia because my father had a stroke that has paralyzed him. That night came with lots of uncertainty and a hard path to travel for our whole family ahead. But two years later, we are still staying strong. We are doing well by being our best no matter how hard it is.

I don’t think anyone can see the reality when someone has a life-changing event like my father did. It has been hard on him for sure. Yet today he and the rest of our family stay strong-willed. We are doing the best that we can be all things considered. Granted, some things were not easy for me to accept and many heated exchanges happened between my mother and me. But in the end, I knew I had to be the mature one. I had to learn to break freer of my mother. She eventually had to dedicate more of her life to caring for my father.

For reasons beyond just this, I am truly grateful that things in my life are the way they are. It is unfathomable that they would be the same as before I secured housing. I had the path made for me in the way that I did. I have also seen how important it is to care for my mental health every day. My mental health is not something that my parents need to worry about. They have so many other things to concern themselves with besides my mental health care.

The past two years have been difficult. Even so, I have learned how to grow through things myself. I did this in my own way. I had to learn the hard way how to advocate for myself. I needed to do it better and in the right way. This way, I get what I need and not just what I want. I also had to learn to see the signs when I need to care for myself. It was necessary for change. Although other things have changed, we sometimes have to hear the hard truth. We must be willing to accept things at face value. There needs to be a reality check; life does not revolve around my own axis.

Sometimes life isn’t fair. It gives us a hand that can be hard to deal with. But one thing that I have always known is that my family is one that never gives up. They never gave up on me at my lowest. They haven’t given up on my father either. It can be difficult for him and those around him. Having dependable people in your life is invaluable. They can be crucial in getting through life’s challenges, no matter how hard they are.