Upsides Succeed Downsides; Just Keep Walking

My entire week turned around on the basis of one email message, from an old friend. It landed in my inbox with the subject line "One-Liner."

In it she just sent me a big hug.

The context was a confluence of anxieties had started to overwhelm me. Of course, trying to handle two audits, with all the frustrations of dealing with banks and credit card companies that seem incapable of producing accurate records on a timely basis, hangs over my household like a massive black storm cloud.

But there are many other worries these days, including how the kids are doing in school; terrible financial pressures; certain health concerns; and many of the things that we all have to cope with as we age.

The hug from my friend wiped these away and brought a big smile to my face. First, I love her and have for so long that when she does something like this she lightens my load and gives me hope as few other people can do. She probably doesn't know that.

Most of us under-estimate the effect we have on others. I certainly do; a lesson I've learned too many times to be excused for ever forgetting it.

Yet I do.

She's the same way. A modest person, now around a decade older than when I first met her, noticing her sparkling eyes and quick smile and dark curly hair.

When I was a younger man I had very dark brown hair, almost black (for a Caucasian). During that stage of my life I was mainly attracted to light-haired women, particularly blonds and redheads.

As an older guy, with grey and then white hair, I seem to be mainly attracted to dark-haired women, especially those with black hair.

This makes me think our relationships may be based in part on finding ways to counter-balance ourselves as living creatures, always subject to change. At the end, we need one another. And whenever we reach out in kindness, to offer a hug, we do good.

***

After receiving my virtual hug, my week suddenly turned positive. I started ignoring all the crappy parts of my life and focusing on all of the beauty around me.

Of course, time with my kids and grandkids came first. I actually get some real hugs from these folks, which is probably one of the main things human beings need -- physical contact and comfort -- to keep going.

Then, some other positive stuff started happening, especially on the professional front.

I'll share that when I can...

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