Today marks 2 years since my Dad, Neville Moriarty, died. The whole 42 years of my life that he was on this earth, I felt very loved. My Dad kept me safe, protected me and supported me to be Michelle Moriarty.

My Dad supported me through thick and thin, through a few of my horrendous choices, and through so many wonderful and excellent choices.

I always felt how my Dad believed in me. He always encouraged me to do my best and he saw my potential, even when I couldn’t. I didn’t always meet my potential, lol, but what matters is that my Dad was encouraging and had my back.

My Dad was the most decent human being that I know. Stable, secure, pragmatic, intelligent, considerate, wise, and what I value most, he was kind. He always used exceptional manners, even if he was staunchly in disagreement or dealing with an idiot, he would always do it with respect.

We were both stubborn at times in our conversation, and would respectfully agree to disagree. Being an only child my Dad taught me to be an independent person. He taught me how to camp, how to fish, how to paint the house and look after my belongings.

He held a mirror up to my life and reflected back to me things that I needed to hear, that I did not necessarily want to hear. And when I faced the truth and admitted after some hard lessons that he was right, he was kind and supportive.

We had many great conversations as I grew older. After Nathan’s (my late partner) death, our conversations became even more important to me.

I am content in that we had held such important, yet sometimes challenging, conversations about life, death, religion, politics, and just general chit chat about the latest thing happening in our lives. I certainly feel fortunate to have such a close relationship with my Dad.

Somehow, time has moved forward to 2 years since the day that my Dad died. I just really miss him.

The thing about missing someone who has died, is that their death is not the end of their being.

Grief, in it’s entirety, is bloody hard. But what is not spoken about so much when we talk about ‘grief’, is the part that helps us to not only survive, but also to grow (if we choose) after a loss.

That part is the love that continues on, throughout the rest of our lives.

We can choose to ignore it and focus on the sadness. Don’t get me wrong, feeling intensely sad through grief is a huge part of the grieving process. But, at the same time, we can also embrace the love.

The love of that existed, and that exists. The love of what was, and what is, and feel it in our hearts, and know it in our mind.

Love, fortunately, unlike our human existence, turns out to be both unconditional and immortal. And that is something that death, and grief, can never, ever, change or steal from us.

My Dad might not be here in body, but his life, his memory and his love, all of that continues along with me as Michelle Moriarty, Neville Moriarty’s daughter.

This love for my legend Dad is combined with such huge feelings of appreciation and gratitude.  I draw on love, good solid values and bring hope and feelings of future into the mix.

Living the rest of my life to continue to make my Dad proud is important to me. For me this is where my own growth through grief comes from. It brings me strength to keep doing what I am doing in the grief space.

Today marks 2 years since my Dad died, so I honour his life. I do this every day, but today I take a little extra time out to reflect and connect.

“Thanks Dad, for being such a legend. Words don’t express how much I miss you on this earth with us.  I will keep pushing forward and making you proud. Love Forever and Always, Your Daughter, Michelle”.