I haven’t written in a while. Between one thing and the other, it seems that the days turn into nights and the nights turn into days. I have a pretty stacked set of goals and they will be accomplished even if it means burning the midnight oil from time to time. Still, I make it a point to live in the moment and treasure those moments, always.

No, life isn’t always roses. I wouldn’t want it to be. I’ve found that like everything else, without that other side of the coin you wouldn’t appreciate the good things in life as much. It’s human nature to take simple everyday things for granted. Things like talking to a friend about everything or nothing at all, or sharing new experiences with those you love. It’s those memories, those laughs, those smiles, those tears that I treasure.

If life has taught me anything it is that real connections, genuine connections are rare. Few and far between you come across people that genuinely love you. They don’t need your connections, don’t want your money. They’re not there because of a title. They do not love you out of some level of obligation. They have no pony in the race, so to speak. Unconditional love and presence, the greatest of gifts, the most valuable of all.

One thing about me is I will never be the kind of person that changes how I show up for someone depending on what they can do for me. If I call you a friend then my presence in your life is one that can be counted on. I don’t simply give it a name, I show it. To hell and back. I value those in my life and their time with me. After all, we never know when that last little bit of time will be.

I think people lose sight of that. Time, a man-made concept that rules our day-to-day when in reality it’s the breaths in our lungs and the beats in our hearts that matter.

The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.

Paulo Coelho