June 16, 2026- Our own best friend

I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing light of your own being.

~Hafez

Wouldn’t we be hurt if someone we spent all day and night with continuously told us they are feeling lonely? Wouldn’t we expect our presence to be enough to take that feeling away?

If we are enough to keep another person company, can’t we be enough for ourselves? Are we so afraid of an honest, genuine conversation that we can’t engage in one with ourselves? Do we rely on outside stimulation or validation so heavily that we feel lonely when we don’t get it?

There is a light inside each of us that can be exposed by others. People may ask the right question, request the right action, and allow us to shine. How can we recall that light when no one is asking for it? How can we look inside ourselves and realize we are the only ones we truly need?

As human beings, we are naturally social creatures. We thrive on interaction. Others can lift us up, make us feel glad to be alive. It is OK to thrive on those interactions, to grow from them, even to crave them. But we must also remember that our strength and our value come from within. We can be at peace with only ourselves. We don’t have to feel lonely when we are alone. We can be our own best friend.