I do firmly believe this. Life is too short to not have it be good, and it’s up to me to make it as good as I can.

I’ve had my tough moments. I’ve been through “stuff.” I’ve been through enough stuff that I could stay with that stuff forever. We all could.

But that would keep me from seeing what’s here for me today. That would blind my eyes and my soul to the beauty in the moment, the laughter with my friends, the ease of life that’s mine for the taking.

The laughter with my friends. That is one of the best ways – for me – to find the good in life and bring more fun into my life. Laughing with my friends.

I have friends whom I’ve known for most of my life (or at least most of my adult and nearly adult life). I treasure them beyond belief. I have friends I’ve met through various stages – first job, first move, first steps into recovery, first time living outside of the NYC area. I treasure all those friends too.

I remember when I first moved to Pennsylvania. I had no friends here. I remember thinking, “Wow, I could have the evening free to go see a movie, but I have no one to go with.” I am eternally grateful to the friends who let me glom onto them and get to know them and the ones who went out of their way to include me and get to know me. But it took a long time. It was hard. It’s hard to make friends as an adult. We feel vulnerable if we reach out to others, and we all (or at least most of us) hate vulnerability. We get in our own ways.

(Someone besides me thought this connection was important. Someone besides me thought that friends were a way to have life be more grand. They created GirlCrew – “the easiest way to make new friends.” Check it out! I wish they had it for Wayne, PA when I moved here.)

But reaching out is important. Connecting with others is important. It fills and fuels us. We are social animals, made to be with others and to enjoy being with others.

Being with others heals me. Laughter heals my heart. Beauty heals my scars. Love heals my soul. But it’s up to me if choose these things that heal me or if I don’t. It’s up to me if I notice what’s not working or if I notice what is. It’s up to me if allow myself to play or if I don’t think there’s time for fun. It’s up to me if I savor and bask and enjoy and thrive…or if I continue to suffer.

god knows I have reasons to continue to suffer, but I don’t want to continue to suffer anymore. I have compassion for myself – in advance – for the moments when I feel overwhelmed and the fears of my past seem real in my future, and I promise myself that I will always do my best to look towards the sun, towards my friends and family, towards my blessings and laughter and joy.

Because life is too short to not have it be good.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, and please share this post with others if it resonates with you!

Photo by Volkan Olmez on Unsplash

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