Several years ago, my husband said to me, you know who your
friends are when… “They are happy for you when you’re happy and sad for you
when you’re sad.
Think about that because when he said this, I looked at my life and realized that my list of real friendships was rather small. My life is filled with people who actually care if I show up or care if I fall into a swamp.
I must admit I'm not very good at reciprocating in friendship. As my life becomes less cluttered, I have noticed the important details and realize that being happy for others even if you don’t know someone very well is a really good feeling.
Sharing that happiness is a simplistic act of kindness and it can have a ripple effect. It’s an expression that means something, especially if it comes from the heart.
Now wouldn’t it be great if we removed any sense of hesitation and learn to be happy for others.
How do you do that?
First,
you decide and believe me this isn’t easy especially if you are
going through trials or just stay so busy you miss certain things.
Earlier this week, I received a text telling me my mom was back in the hospital. For a moment I felt sadness, keeping my thoughts to myself as I normally do.
In the next moment I reached out to a few people asking them to say a prayer, two responded and one did not. Now I could have taken the one that didn’t respond and feel less than.
But here is the thing, I have no idea what their day looked like or even if they received the message, nor was I asking them to respond. Sometimes we can over think situations when we should just be thankful for the good people in our lives we can reach out to.
Go Out on a Limb
Most recently I have been watching some of my friends and new acquaintances basically go out on a limb. One is starting a new flower farm where she lives in Colorado, another moved her business to a new town and a few others are putting themselves out there spiritually.I am happy for all of them because it's neat to see good transpire from positive actions. They have all encouraged me to see my own gifts with an uplifting eye.
Almost daily I remind myself of past accomplishments, but in my heart, I feel like “I’m just getting started.”
We’re all just getting started in some little way and it's my
hope for those reading you take a digest about the good things in your life and put more energy into that.
Grow from what is good and go out on a limb, who knows learning to be happy for others just might encourage your next step.
Be the good,
Carole West