Facing Life’s Challenges

In Enough Rope, Carol confronts betrayal, loss, and intense public scrutiny, but her resilience stands out. Susa Capo crafts a character whose struggle to rise from despair resonates with readers facing their own challenges.
Let’s agree that we all have challenges. Carol faces hers with the support of her two daughters and courageous friends. We can say all the standard phrases about friendship. This one by Reese Witherspoon reminds me most of Carol:

I don’t know what I would have done so many times in my life if I hadn’t had my girlfriends. They have literally gotten me up out of bed, taken my clothes off, put me in the shower, dressed me, said, ‘Hey, you can do this,’ put my high heels on and pushed me out the door! — Reese Witherspoon

I am fortunate to have friends of that caliber. Ones who go that extra mile. While friendship can include betrayal and loss, the emotional well-being it can bring will outperform many medications for depression and alleviate loneliness. Loneliness has been called an epidemic. According to one Surgeon General report:
It is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity

Wow, that’s quite an impact. Not much I can do but keep in touch with friends and maybe give a smile to a stranger. What will you do?

Facing Life’s Challenges

God Bless Billie Holiday