Yesterday, I attended services for a friend of ours who recently, and very unexpectedly passed away. She was 38. She had two young sons.

I'm not sure how to put my reaction to this. The tears were expected, the resulting unity I felt and still feel for our friends and family was not. I realized that while we are all different, there are too many similarities to overlook. It's easy to stay away from friends because I feel we're too "different" but I see now how that is never a good idea. I realized I need and want to spend time with our friends again, my friends, and make a real effort to do that. Even the ones whom I've had "issues" with in the past about seeming judgements over our choices. It's important that we look for the similarities and spend time together and enjoy one another because life is short, you never know. It's been too easy to cocoon myself away from people and use the kids as an excuse. I won't do that anymore. I'll start reaching out to people, to family members I've avoided, and I'll make an effort to be more open and accepting of our differences.