(I wrote this yesterday afternoon after being overwhelmed by the pouring of two words from so many people via social media. It felt like Christmas all day long, as I opened emails, read tweets and viewed Facebook posts. I was humbled and am still moved today. It’s amazing how those small acts of kindness moved me. I hope that I can always remember to share and encourage my friends whether online or in person, how special they are. As my online friend Steffan Antonas says, “It’s about encouraging randomness and accelerating serendipity in others’ lives.” Oh, and those two words: Happy Birthday. So, indulge please me as I wax philosophical and this is for you.)
The Beauty Of Friends
Today I’ve been reminded of the beauty of friends. With the growth of social media, more people have reached out to me than ever before in tribute of this day. It’s been truly heart-warming, touching and overwhelming. My eyes have filled with tears several times because of my friends and their messages of hope.
Today, I’ve been blessed by the beauty of friends. My childhood friends from sleep-over days. My junior high friends who felt just as much out of place during seventh and eighth grade as I did. My high school friends who celebrated and mourned with me with the ups and downs of teenage life. My college friends who were there by my side believing in me, supporting me and offering helpful hands. My friends from decades past in various cities and professions.
Today, I’ve been blessed by the beauty of friends. A blue bird started tweeting early this morn. An online facebook started reminding others to blow their horns. The virtual roll-a-deck flipped to that day I was born.
Today I’ve been blessed by the beauty of friends. My relatives that are physically far away yet near in heart. My family both here and afar that are stronger than friends.
Today, I’ve contemplated the gathering of family and friends, the need for warmth and love, and the promise of light in the darkness. Our yearning for each other, relationships, community. Today’s well wishers have been a promising respite from stressed-out work, cascading reports of corporate corruption, economic debacles, sagging retail and housing sales, and expanding layoffs.
Today, I’ve been blessed by the beauty of friends. I’ve learned the simple truth: Be together. I know we can’t all be physically together and mobility isn’t the issue. I’ve learned we need to let go of the idea that we can make it alone. We need each other. God made us that way. Our isolation and anonymity are anomalies. They make it difficult for God to walk with us.
I wish for you today that we can each imagine such togetherness, and that imagining it, we would go in search of it. It is never too early or late in life to realize the beauty of friends.
Jeff,
This is a heart warming post. I particularly appreciate the very last thought “we need to let go of the idea that we can make it alone.” Since I moved out to California and left my family and most of my friend on the East Coast 3 years ago, no life lesson rings truer. Happiness is about shared experience, and face to face experiences in general are great order of magnitude more potent than online ones (not to say online connections can’t be powerful). I’m a hyper independent person and being without loved ones on a regular basis has been a very humbling experience, but an important one. This post reminded me of that. Thanks, Jeff.
Thanks Steffan.
I’m a hyper independent person too and as I’ve grown older, the more I’ve come to appreciate that I’m not cut-out to be a lone-ranger island. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Hello Jeff.
I’m glad you are surrounded here, over there & far more away with people that care and respect you (I’m definitely one of them)
Friendship is one of the basics in life. It makes us feel good about ourselves and be able to share it’s a great feeling.
All the best for you. Blessings
Ugh, I liked! So clear and positively.
Thanks
AnnaHopn
Hi, good post. I have been wondering about this issue,so thanks for posting. I’ll definitely be coming back to your site.
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