As the saying goes, make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other, gold.
I have a gold mine. I’m sitting on top of a veritable gold mine of longtime friendships. Thirty or more years of connections with people who have enhanced my life in innumerable ways.
I just lost some rare and valuable gold. Losing gold is hard. Each nugget is individual and irreplaceable. The gold I lost on the last day of 2023 was so precious to me I’m having a difficult time coping with the loss.
It started with a phone call early on January 1, 2024. I saw the caller’s name and thought it unexpected but not alarming… “Happy New Year!” – all seemed good. Then came the overwhelmingly tragic words that delivered the blow – there had been a fatal accident and I instantly went numb. I was experiencing an alternate universe where only tragedy existed… and it wasn’t real. Or so I wished with all my heart.
As the details unfolded I came to the realization that this nightmare was real and the unimaginable had happened. When I disconnected from the call, I disconnected from life as I knew it and am now still reeling with sadness, regret, a certain amount of guilt, and a huge void which will never be filled.
You see, this friendship had endured over decades and had survived several moves on each of our parts, a multitude of relationships, partnerships and breakups, long distances, and communication challenges. Nevertheless, the emotional intimacy we shared remained strong. We shared our ups and downs, our joys and our sadness, our hopes and dreams, our aspirations and our failures. Basically we shared it all.
And the generosity was incomparable. Any need expressed or unexpressed seemed to be fulfilled – like having a genie in a bottle. Nothing was inconvenient or problematic. It was always, “yes!”
So now you may understand why I am feeling this loss in ways that cannot be expressed…
Gold is precious – it gleams and it shines. It makes you feel rich. It doesn’t tarnish nor grow dull.
Take care of your gold, cherish it, nurture it and keep it close. You never know, for in the twinkle of an eye, it can be taken away from you.
We Must Be the Change 
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I started meeting incredible people, engaging in exciting conversations, and even went on some memorable dates. The best part? I felt a renewed sense of excitement and joy in my life. If you’re looking to break out of your routine and meet amazing new people, I highly recommend checking it out. Click here to see for yourself. Trust me, you won’t regret it!