It’s really fun to say, “Hey look I know that person, I talk to him every day and so far he’s never bitten me.”

“Good morning. How are you?” is said a thousand times a day by strangers in passing and is usually followed with a cursory, “I’m fine, how are you?” But what if you’re not fine? What if you’re the opposite of fine? Do you stand on the sidewalk and tell your life story to a complete stranger or do you keep on the fake smile, lie and say you’re good, and go on your way. We lie. So why even ask?

I recently met a woman who didn’t take my, “I’m okay,” answer and she stopped and took the time to listen. Actually listen. A complete stranger. You don’t find people who honestly want to know how you’re doing, they’re busy and in a hurry and trying to be polite. But she did. And not only that first day that I saw her, but every time I saw her again she listened, advised, hugged.

Is it her life experiences that have given her the insight to know when someone is in need? Now, with a budding friendship where she gives me coffee, watches my son some mornings and even lets me cry to her on the phone, I worry about taking advantage of this wonderful woman’s seemingly endless supply of compassion.

I used to be one of those people and I wonder where along the way I lost that compassion and became so jaded and cynical. I’m hoping that my new life will get me back to the kind, considerate person I used to be. I’m hoping my old friends know I’m going through a rough time and will get back there and my new friends will figure out that this bitterness really isn’t me. And I’m hoping Jacky knows just how much I treasure her friendship.