We Need Each Other

Sometimes it feels as if we have to figure life out all on our own. I think this feeling has grown even stronger this past year when we’ve been so isolated from each other. But friends, we need each other!

As I’ve faced a new barrage of doctor appointments and tests these last few months, (read more about that here) I’m convinced all the more how much we need each other. That has become clear in several different ways recently.

The medical tests I had done on my heart came back pretty good, but they still point to a particular condition my doctor thinks I have. So he referred me to a cardiologist to confirm. I saw that doctor on Wednesday and he is sure I don’t have said condition. Just to make sure there’s nothing else going on, he’s having me do what they call an active echocardiogram, which is an echocardiogram done in the middle of a stress test. Won’t that be fun?!

I know people have been praying for me and I often get messages asking for updates. I feel loved and cared for! We need the support and encouragement of others. But we also need their wisdom. Talking with my parents after my appointment, it became clear my doctor might not have heard everything I needed to say about my symptoms. After talking with a friend, I knew I had to push things a little.

Yesterday I saw the notes from my appointment in my online portal. Part of those notes said I reported not having symptoms that I do in fact have. I know one of the things I did mention, the other things we just didn’t talk about. I admit to feeling flustered at the appointment because the doctor spoke quickly and I’m a slow processor. So I sent a message through the online portal explaining the symptoms we didn’t discuss. Obviously I communicate better in writing! I don’t know if this will change anything, but at least I can feel confident that I communicated things clearly.

Sometimes we need others to encourage us to say the words, make sure we clarify, and motivate us to put ourselves out there even if it feels awkward. We need each other!

Later in the morning I had a fantastic Zoom meeting with my writing coach/publisher. She shared with me something that one of her other authors did it’s something that will work great for me and my book coming out in February. I know this other author and will reach out to her for more information. Sometimes our success, or the breakthrough we need, comes from someone else and their willingness to invest in us and share what they know. We need each other!

Yesterday afternoon I received an email from someone saying she had just read my newsletter, loves the cover of my new book (I just gave my subscribers a sneak peek – make sure you’re subscribed too so you can see all the good stuff first!), and would like to host me on her website. What a blessing! I found out she has a book coming out a month after mine and offered to host her right here on my blog too. She didn’t expect anything in return when she reached out to me, but I was able to reciprocate. Now we’re both excited at these opportunities because we’re both new authors and pretty much everything is thrilling. Friends, we need each other!

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s that we need to be nice to each other. Help who you can, how you can. Encourage others. Love well. Spread joy. Life is so much better together!

Instead of burning bridges, build them. Then build some more. We need each other because life is so much better together!

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Who can you encourage or help this week? In whose life can you sprinkle some joy?

Until next time,

Josie

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. … A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. -Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12