2021: Lost a Friend; Found Myself

Hello YOU!

Happy Heart Month!

Thank you for sharing a few moments with me.

I have a quick, positive written thought just for you..about a very negative topic.

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During this cray-cray past 12 months – I learned a lot; BUT I lost a lot, too.

Why did I choose this topic during my 2021 positivity posts? Because I am writing a personal essay for a magazine on this very topic…and wanted to share a snippet with you today. There’s a good lesson to be learned for the new year….even during a time of loss.

So, guess what?

You’re getting a sneak-peek of a never-before-published article….

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The Bad News: I lost a dear friend. My friend did not share one common opinion regarding COVID-19, masks, social distancing, etc. And that’s okay. But in 2020 – this friend chose not to respond to my emails, written note cards, text messages, or voicemails for months after I turned down her social invitation. And that’s okay, too.

The Good News: I found myself and my voice. My pre-pandemic self would apologize ad nauseam. Verbally put myself down for having such opinions about masks and the pandemic. But I didn’t. I stood firm and tall and never once belittled anyone for being anti-masks or thinking COVID-19 was the Flu 2.0. (One person actually said they would rather get the C-Virus over the Flu.)

There were several close friends & family members who were strongly opposed to my personal thoughts about the level of activity which could be safely carried out during the pandemic. For Me. For my family. Not for them or for their family.

I made no judgement on their lifestyle choices. Made no comments. Ever.

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I chose not to travel. They did.

I chose to purchase only carry-out meals at my local restaurants. They never stopped dining inside once it resumed.

I chose to shop online. They walked the mall, big box stores, and grocery stores without giving it a second thought.

I chose to practice yoga at home. They still attended their exercise classes.

My friends basically carried out life as it was before the pandemic…and some did so without wearing a mask. Again, I made absolutely not one comment. I respected their decisions about risk and reward.

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Many thought I was a fool….and told me so. Many times. Over and over.

I was lectured that “living life scared” was not living at all.

And some of my friends and family just stopped responding to my attempts to contact them. It was as if I didn’t exist if I wasn’t willing to travel with them…. have lunch with them… or exercise with them.

Without apology, I remained strong and steadfast. And without resentment or anger, I chose to love my friends and family for what we still had in common before the pandemic.

I find it easy to love people for who they are and not for who I want them to be. And, in my lifetime – there’s truly less than a handful of people that I can’t find at least 1 characteristic to love or at least, admire. (And I’ll save ellaboration about those few for another post.) 😉

That’s my positive post for today. It’s been a rough year for us all. Look forward. And Look for the goodness that everyone (almost) has inside of them.

Happy Hearts Month, again, Readers!

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Thank you for allowing me to share with you. Just found out a piece of my Flash Non-Fiction I wrote back in August is being published on a national magazine’s online platform. So excited!