A while back, I posted here with a long drawn out examination of 'real' friends and online friends. Well, I have to tell you a story that changes everything...and I mean everything.
The other night, I was lamenting my journey back to school. I love the kids there and always will, but parts of the atmosphere have grown unhappy. On Plurk, I received a private message from a wonderful person I have gotten to know. I am going to leave the name out because I don't want to embarrass. The message included a cell phone number and the message included an invitation to text if I needed to.
Can you believe that? What an incredibly wonderful thing to do for someone. What an amazing act of kindness. I can tell you that that bit of magic got me through a really stressful day. Of course my wonderful wife is always there for me, but I sometimes feel like a burden with this seemingly never-changing issue. It was uplifting to know that someone else was there for me. I only ended up sending one message. I should have sent two....at least one should have been a thank you.
Lesson learned! The manner that you meet someone is of little consequence to the strength of the ties! I am truly blessed by great friends! Thanks for the help on the journey.
Graphic from "The North Star" gallery, from the book "The North Star" by Peter H. Reynolds. Educators may get their own poster here...for free!
5 comments:
THAT is a terrific story. I feel that way about many of my online friends too. I call them my network, and tell my real-life friends and colleagues they are like a real life verizon network that follows me around and are there when I need them.
Friends are friends no matter how you meet them and teachers should be there for one another. That is why we are drawn together in online communities. I am sure the person didn't need the thank you text because they wouldn't have shared their number if they didn't know you were that kind of person anyway. Glad that helped you through! I know I love my online friends, too!
You are never alone - continue to cast out your own net of friendship, and when you need it, the kindness will be reciprocated.
That's a great story! With all that goes on in our lives, it can be rather difficult at times to share with our spouses. It's so great to know that there is a community of supporters who are there for us and remind us of the good that is also there. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing a wonderful story of friendships built from a network of fabulous people who want to grow, share, and create. It is amazing to me that I can type a thought, no matter the mood, and know that somewhere, somehow, someone in my network 'gets' it. Thanks for saying it, and saying it well.
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