Indeed, there is no recipe for a "perfect
life." One must work at life, and make it up as we go along.
We must be cognizant of
the fact that we work for the common good out of respect, kindness, and
love for one another.
"Friendship" is quite an ordinary word, but
it has extraordinary significance in our lives. It's very easy to take
friendship for granted. Many people do, only to experience regret
later. In order to serve our friends properly, a person needs knowledge
and empathy to help those in need. Some people instinctively do
the right things, but at one time or another they will be faced with the
challenge of knowing specific information about illness, addiction, and
many other difficult situations.
One of the messages I hope to convey is that
being helpful means being educated and well informed. Pain is a human
condition. There is no way we can avoid pain in our lives or in those of
our friends. However, finding balance, and successfully living through
difficult times, paves the way for deeper rewarding friendships.
Being open to our friends allows us to be
vulnerable; committing time to one another, and expressing (in words and
actions) our desire for our friends to be the best they can be, are
ingredients of good friendships.
There is no doubt in my mind that a person
who has one caring, confiding, and intimate friend is definitely richer
than one who has a group of acquaintances. If we can all imbue our lives with meaning,
it will be a rewarding and enlightening experience.
Our journey here on earth was never meant to
be easy. Facing adversity takes courage and sometimes going beyond the
realm of simply being brave. It means taking that step forward to help those
who fear being alone in times of strife and illness.
We all leave legacies, some rich with
knowledge, some sincere, some not so sincere. I would hope that my
legacy would be: I took the time to listen, advise and console with the
utmost love and compassion for all I came in contact with.
I have always tried to live my life by the
written word of Bertrand Russell which reads:
Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly
strong, have governed my life:
The longing for love,
The search for knowledge,
and the unbearable pity for the suffering of
mankind.
In my words: "A caring heart is a loving
heart."
Love and light
Linda Gail
