Grief sorts it out. It strips pretense, affectation and all other forms of bullshit.

I'm over twenty years past the loss of my first husband. Although I will always be painfully aware of who and what I lost, having let go of so much that was hindering me in my life, I am a stronger, better version of myself.

They say grief rewrites your address book. Sure, my life has fewer people in it. I have been granted a greater sense of empathy. But I can also see toxicity like it's under a magnifying glass.