On July 8, we celebrate Oneofusismissing Day. This day commemorates our deceased loved ones. It is a day of healing, remembering, and consolation. It encourages those who continue to live to be appreciative for each day they continue to breathe because life is a gift that should not be wasted. The holiday is observed through group discussions, the recounting of stories, and the viewing of family videos. We set aside our differences in race, religion, class, and creed in order to share a common appreciation for life and the deceased.
The background of Oneofusismissing Day
Latonya Brown established OneofusisMissing Day in April 2021, after she lost her daughter in an accident. During her grief, Brown realised that her child’s untimely demise did not and could not define her existence. Instead, it served as a reminder that we only have one existence and one opportunity to make the most of it before our time on earth is over.
Daily, people lose loved ones to illness, accidents, crime, and suicide, among other causes, but it does not matter how or why they perished. What matters is how we choose to remember and honour them after they have passed away. It is acceptable that one of us will always be absent because there is life after death. It is acceptable for us to move on. It is permissible to laugh and enjoy existence. People should not feel guilty about moving on from a traumatic past or a tragic loss.
There is no prescribed method of mourning the deceased. Some may discuss the five stages of grief and other coping mechanisms, but the reality is that there is no definitive method to cope with grief and loss. However, by leaning on others, discussing our loss, and working through it, we move closer to recovering and regaining our happiness.
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5 ESSENTIAL FACTS ABOUT DEATH
Grief is a natural reaction to human loss, and no one should be embarrassed or offended by it.
The more you care for someone and value your relationship with them, the deeper your grief will be upon their passing.
Grief comes in phases and will always be a part of your life, but you will learn to live with it and even appreciate the memories it brings.
Humans are social organisms who, in almost all circumstances, require the support and assistance of others to survive.
Repressing grief does not eliminate it; only experiencing it does.
ONEOFUSISMISSING DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | July 8 | Saturday |
| 2024 | July 8 | Monday |
| 2025 | July 8 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | July 8 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | July 8 | Thursday |
