Today I had one of the worst experiences of my life.

I went to the funeral of the six-month old baby grandson of some friends.

My tears flowed freely. And as I was there, to do the only meaningful thing I could do to help, to show support for the family, I recognized that as hard as it was for me — and all the other mourners gathered there — it had to be almost unbearable for them. I cannot begin to imagine their pain and suffering.

Based on my own experiences, mourning for a loved one is a personal, individual pain that transcends physical limitations. It swamps you with darkness. It impacts your thoughts about life and the future while sometimes necessitating a pause for breath before returning to mourn some more. You think of things you might have done differently. Regrets gnaw you. Guilt lurks in the corner.

Eventually, one hopes, the pain will lessen. But it rarely disappears. And life goes on. Pain is a key part of being human.