Living Life Amid the Thorns

Ah, blessed Saturday evening!  Thankfully my sweet one and I got our errrands done early today, and decided instead of going out, we'd just hang at home.  After spending about an hour returning things to their rightful place in the studio, I decided it was time to try to "catch up" on some of my favorite blogs.  (Does anyone else feel sad when the Google Reader toolbar says "434"-- meaning there are 434 posts I haven't caught up on yet?)  So many people I want to visit, so little time! 

One of my biggest problems in blogland,  I think, is that I get so easily sidetracked.  I'll start by reading one of my favorites, and then I just have to stop and comment.  (I'm one of those who STRONGLY believes in positive encouragement and reinforcement.)  Next thing I know, I've noticed someone else's clever or insightful comment, and I have to just "take a quick peek" to see who she is.  I tiptoe lightly over to her blog, and then it happens all over again!  I HAVE to comment on what she's so courageously shared (we are sharing our hearts and souls here!)  Next thing you know.....   You get the idea.  And so, 2 hours later, I'm down to "433" and have found 3 new blogs to "Follow"! 

I came across the wonderful blog of a gal who lives right here in my own area (Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex).  Ordinarily, I'd love to share her with you, but I don't want to overstep.   She mentioned in one of her posts that she had been feeling blue lately (largely in part to an infection she'd been overcoming AND the winter gray skies.)  She also commented about a loved one accusing her of throwing a "pity party" and it just broke my heart.  As someone who struggles with depression (and Seasonal Affective Disorder), I could SO feel her pain. 

At that moment, I just had to stop and send her a personal email letting her know that I can empathize.  I've dealt with depression for many years now and a few months ago, I too, was recovering from a serious infection.  The antibiotics can really reak havoc on your emotions! 

Then, because I STILL felt like I really wanted her to KNOW that she was understood and valued ('cause, really, isn't that what we all want?), I thought, "I'll just create a quick digital collage with a quote I like for her to print and hang."  Well, if you're anything like me, "quick" is a word that is incongruous with "create".  Another 2 hours later, I finished my small 5x7 collage and attached it to my email. 

I'm not trying to "boast" or say what a good person I am or anything.  Not at all!  I hope it doesn't come across that way.  I just SO know how alone one can feel at times due to illness, tragedy, or circumstances beyond our control.  I'm so thankful for my blogging community that gives me the opportunity to connect with others who are going through tough things, too.  It allows me the opportunity to forget about my worries and focus on caring for another, if but only in a small way.

Live Collage meant to print as 5x7 or smaller.