Paddington: A Bear's Journey Through Loss

This: you're on a plane, heading home from a funeral. You're looking for a distraction, something light to watch. You pick a movie about a bear in a red hat. Sounds like a good idea, right? Well, it wasn't for me. I had no idea that Paddington Bear would take me on a journey through grief. You see, Paddington's story is a lot like mine. He loses his uncle in a big earthquake. Then, his aunt has to send him away to find a new home. All alone. I cried because I knew how he felt. I had just lost my dad, and I was feeling the same way. I was always taking care of my dad. I wanted to be his kid, not his caretaker. Paddington was the same. He had to grow up and figure out the adult world. It was tough to watch.The Paddington movies have become something special for me. I watched the first one the day after my dad's funeral. It was hard, but it was also a way to cope. The second movie was a breath of fresh air, a break from the sadness. I watched it a few months later. Now, the third movie is coming out. It will be almost two years since my dad passed. Paddington has become a way for me to track my grief. He's been with me through it all. It's strange how a movie about a bear can help you deal with loss. But it's true. Paddington has been a comforting companion. The movies have been a way for me to process my feelings. They've given me a way to grieve. It's not just about the bear. It's about the journey. It's about the loss. It's about the healing. It's about the love. Paddington's story is a reminder that grief is a journey. It's not something you can rush. It's not something you can skip. It's something you have to go through. And it's okay to have a bear by your side while you do it.