I have a good friend who lives a state away from me.  She started out as a close friend of my son’s, a member of his core social group when he lived there too, and over the years she and I have developed a special bond.  We frequently text and share parts of our day with each other, things we’re thinking about, things we’re doing.  And so often when we do that, it really lifts me up.

Part of the reason for that is just the person she is.  She is such an interesting, kind, loving soul, and I admire very much how she lives her life.  She has a very clear sense of her self and what is important to her, and she lives her life authentically.  Her real self shines through brilliantly, and it is so beautiful.  

Today she texted me that she was going to get her roommate and they were going to take a walk, somewhere away from her neighborhood.  She is going to start a new job soon and she wanted to take advantage of the free time she has now to be able to be outside and center herself.  

They went to one of the local state parks and walked around and sat for a while.  It’s a beautiful day and that would be the perfect place to spend time.  The whole atmosphere there was incredibly healing.  

She sent me a video clip of some water there and the sounds from it. And she told me about a butterfly that dropped in right in front of them and stayed with them for a minute or two.  She said they just sat in silence and enjoyed that special moment.  She was fully present in that moment, her awareness open to all the beauty to be found in it, and she said it nearly brought her to tears.

As I was reading what she was sharing with me, I felt tears in my eyes too.  I felt so much joy inside – both for her being able to experience those incredible moments and for myself for what I was feeling as I heard about them.  

Her sharing had a profound impact on me.  It very much lifted me up, and I experienced a deep sense of peace and happiness from our exchange.  It made me realize how much connecting with someone and sharing with them the love and positive things we experience in our life can impact that other person.  How much opportunity, in just that simple act, we have to lift each other up.

I hope you lift someone up today!