Let the Good Times Roll… Even Through Grief
Mardi Gras. For many, it’s beads, parades, music, and celebration. But for me, for my family, it’s so much deeper.
Mardi Gras is legacy.
Mardi Gras is family.
Mardi Gras is home.
Being raised along the Gulf Coast between Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana, this season is a part of who we are. From Bay St. Louis to New Orleans, Mardi Gras didn’t just pass through our lives, it was woven into our story.
I remember my grandparents riding on floats in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. I remember the excitement, the pride, the unity. That tradition didn’t stop with them. It carried on to my parents… my aunties… my uncles… my cousins. And eventually, it reached us.
We created our own lane, our own space with the Krewe of Real People. Not just a name, but a reflection of who we are: authentic, connected, and rooted in community.
Now, that same legacy lives on through my brother and the next generation. Because that’s what Mardi Gras is about. It’s not just a celebration… it’s a continuation.
The Meaning Behind the Celebration
Mardi Gras means “Fat Tuesday” in French, but around here, it also means:
- Showing up for your people
- Celebrating life loudly and unapologetically
- Honoring tradition while creating new memories
- Finding joy even when life feels heavy
Let the good times roll.
But what happens when life doesn’t feel good?
When Celebration Meets Grief
For my family, the season from October through March has become one of the hardest times of the year.
We’ve experienced deep loss, loss that doesn’t just disappear because a parade is rolling or music is playing. The holidays shifted. Christmas changed. And even Mardi Gras, once one of my favorite seasons, became touched by grief.
This year, especially, we carry the weight of a loss that is still fresh, still real.
And yet… We showed up.
Showing Up With Intention
My word for 2026 is Intention. February’s focus was Connection. And Mardi Gras this year required both. Because showing up didn’t mean everything felt okay.
It meant choosing to honor life anyway. It meant:
- Smiling through tears
- Laughing while holding memories close
- Being present, even when our hearts felt heavy
We showed up the way our loved ones would have wanted us to. We showed up the way they showed up.
Real Talk TYME Moment
Sometimes healing doesn’t look like sitting still. Sometimes healing looks like:
- Going to the parade anyway
- Being around family anyway
- Letting joy and grief exist in the same space
Because both can be true at the same time.
You can miss someone deeply… And still laugh.
You can feel broken… And still celebrate.
You can grieve… And still let the good times roll.
Giving Yourself Grace
Let me be real with you. There were moments where I wasn’t my best. Moments where I had to pause. Moments where I had to shift.
And that’s okay. Because life be life-ing.
And the people who truly love you? They understand. They extend grace. They stand with you. They don’t expect perfection, they honor your process.
The Legacy Continues
Mardi Gras isn’t just about what we’ve lost. It’s about what we’re still building.
Every bead thrown. Every float ridden. Every memory created is a reminder that our loved ones still live through us. Through our traditions. Through our stories. Through how we continue to show up.
Final Reflection
So this Mardi Gras, I chose something different. I chose to feel and then deal. I chose to show up intentionally. I chose to honor both grief and joy.
And most importantly… I chose to let the good times roll not because everything was perfect, but because life is still worth living.