It's me, Jessica!*

I know a bit about loneliness - I think at times a lot of us know more about it than we'd ever like to.  I've been traditionally lonely, where I don't have a soul around me.  I've also been the kind of lonely where I am surrounded by people but they feel so far away.  Most of my life I have felt some type of loneliness.  It's okay - it builds character (and I feel I have a lot of that). 

In the scriptures we read that there must be opposition in all things.  Light cannot exist without the dark, good without the evil, happiness without sadness, etc.  If we don't know the one, we can't really know/comprehend the other. 

As you can tell from my incredibly vague blog post a few posts back, I haven't exactly been in the cheeriest place in my life (in fact - I am under the impression that 2012 sucks...).  I have lost something very dear to me, something I worry I will never get back.  That brings on tidal waves of sadness.  But the thing I love about life is that waves come and go, tides rise and fall.  And even when you think you are all alone, when you think that no one wants to be around you (because let's face it, you're kind of a downer) there is good to be found if you will only open your eyes to see it.

Sometimes (going back to opposition) we would never notice how lucky we are if we didn't have patches in our lives where we think we have lost "everything". 

Over the last week I have received comfort from friends all over the country.  A text message here or there, an offer to come visit them (some to come live with them) so I can get away for a while, an e-mail or two,  once I even got flowers!  I feel like I have been a selfish brat because for the most part, I didn't realize how blessed I am.  I sat here thinking I'm all alone, but I'm not.  Friends who I think have forgotten me have not - and though many of them are miles away, they still do what they can to show that they care.  Friends here in Richmond have been great too (where do you think the flowers came from?) and sometimes I take for granted how great they are because I feel like they are always there.

So basically, I just wanted to write to say that I have the world's greatest friends (don't worry - this includes family).  I feel I should take a moment to thank all of my friends - you all are amazing, beautiful people who have blessed my life and continue to bless my life more than you could imagine.  Each of you has helped in shaping me into the person I am, and the person I am becoming.  I aspire to be the same kind of friend that you are to me.  Thank you!