Jun 22, 2016
When Azim Khamisa's only son, twenty year old Tariq, was murdered by a fourteen year old boy, his immediate thought, beyond reason, was that two lives had been lost. Drowning in a sea of grief, he knew he had to bring meaning back into his life if he was to truly live again. But what could he do that would somehow honor his son and contribute in the world? Founding the Tariq Khamisa Foundation, he put his energy into doing all he could to prevent other young people from meeting the fate of his son and the boy who killed him. Reaching out to Ples Felix, the grandfather who was raising his son's murderer, was a natural step for Azim, building forgiveness and coming together to improve the chances that others would not have to live through what either of them has. Although Azim doesn't know entirely why forgiveness was his immediate path, it has led him to a life of passionate service and fulfillment despite an unbearable loss. What does he have to teach us about this choice?
On Good Grief we explore the losses that define our lives. Each week, we talk with people who have transformed themselves through the profound act of grieving. Why settle for surviving? Say yes to the many experiences that embody loss! Grief can teach you where your strengths are and ignite your courage. It can heighten your awareness of what is important to you and help you let go of what is not.