Hello 1Day --

I have often felt exactly this way: that other people have more and better friendships, are somehow more engaged. I, too, don't have a best friend.

Since I became involved with the Sufis, my thinking about this is slowly changing. I don't feel as bothered about it as I used to. Many people have pitched in to help me get through the past two years. I was thinking the other night that there were many people who never offered me a place to say -- and I guess I thought they "should" have.

But then I thought -- but there was always someone who did invite me. And generally the people acted really glad that I was there, not like I was an imposition. It was as if being unemployed and having a breakdown was an opportunity for us to visit.

I have a spiritual mentor. Whenever I would complain, "There aren't many jobs in the newspaper right now," she'd reply, "You don't need a lot of jobs. You just need one job." So just turn it over to God that the job that is right for me is out there.

I thought about that with friends: maybe I don't have a lot of friends, but there was always a friend to pick me up, give me a place to stay, and that includes the loving people -- like you 1Day and SweetCrusader -- on the Forums.

Take care, 1Day.