Finding Inspiration in a Surprising Place

I decided to join Facebook on a sunny, spring morning after turning my nose up at the social networking platform for months. I was a hardcore Twitter girl. I don’t remember why I changed my mind, but I did.


One of the first people I connected—or rather reconnected—with was my friend Julie. I met Julie in my first year of junior high. We were 12 years old and became good friends. We stayed that way until high school graduation, when life took us in different directions. But I thought of her often and hoped she was well.

We quickly made up for lost time via Facebook. I learned what she’d done in the almost 20 years since graduation. I looked at photos of her family. Soon, it was like no time had passed at all.

However, I was surprised to find myself inspired by Julie. Every morning, she would rave about what a beautiful day it was and wish everyone good morning. She would come home from work and wish everyone a good evening. She’d find five minutes to tell everyone good night.

Julie has bad days, like we all do. The difference is she doesn’t let them hold her back. Her morning may not have been the best, but the afternoon is going to be better. She gets tired, but she’s grateful for the job that allows her to take care of her husband and daughters. If she has trouble sleeping, then she’s grateful for the extra time allowed in the morning for a walk in the countryside. Julie takes life’s lemons and really does turn them into lemonade.

I look forward to Julie’s Facebook posts and messages because they are reminders that life is a blessing, even when it throws everything it possibly can at you. I’m grateful that, almost 25 years after we met (!), I can still call her my friend.

A couple of months ago, Julie posted a note on her Facebook page titled “The Positive Side of Me.” The last two paragraphs moved me:

“Everyday, EVERY person in this world wakes up with a decision to make... be happy and feel blessed with what you have or be pissy and complain about what you don't have... I refuse to complain... It took me years to realize that I have exactly what I NEED: Love, security, a home, a job, and THE best family a person can ask for...

“So each day when you wake up, ask yourself how your day will be... Only YOU make that decision. Only YOU decide how you will live your life...”

I want to live my life like Julie: full of gratitude and counting my blessings while being a good friend.