#girldad For The Daddy’s Girls Who Struggle To Live Without Their Fathers

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#Girldad is trending on social media. The hashtag was created as a tribute to Kobe and Gianna Bryant. Bryant and his 13-year old daughter lived, loved, played, laughed and tragically died together. The two along with seven other people died Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif.

Now, the hashtag has taken on a life of its own.

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Daddies and daughters alike are posting their photos of their best gals and fearless heroes on Facebook. It’s a beautiful sentiment. But it’s also triggering as fuck.

My own hero died Jan. 18, 2017. The tears still fall. It hasn’t gotten any easier even with therapy. I struggle every day to not spiral back into a manic depressive state. I find joy intentionally but sometimes I just miss my daddy and no amount of jokes or songs can remove that yearning. #Girldad was cool. My reaction to it was not.

I am cognizant of my triggers. I avoid subjects that I know will send me reeling. But sometimes, life happens and I’m…