It’s funny the way my mind works sometimes. A simple trip to the store will have me thinking about so many things that I would never have thought about otherwise, if I had stayed home instead.

On this particular day, a warm sunny day in May, I went to the store for the usual rations of juice boxes, yogurt, Miracle Whip, and whatever else dazzled my eye. As it happened, I ran into an old friend, a neighbor of mine when I was little, who is a little older than me, and we got to talking. And it made me think about how different people can be, and yet we’re all the same really. Even if we have things in our lives that make living difficult, we can still be winners in whatever we strive to do. And still be the same humble person about it all.

There’s a certain charm in knowing that there are good people out there, who do great things, and who deserve everything that they strive for.It makes me smile to know that I have such great friends in all corners of the world, who are living, creating, being. They may not realize just how important they all are to me, or just how much I think about them all every day. I spent some time in CVS that same afternoon, before the store, and as I was glancing over the card racks I found several cards that made me think of different people they’d be perfect for. My friends inspire me, in so many ways. I often wonder if they know how much they’re appreciated, just for being them.

Lately, I’ve been trying to take things slowly, really marinate in each moment, take it all in. The universe is unpredictable, and you never know what it will throw at you day to day. Today, a rainbow, tomorrow, a thunderstorm. But if you don’t see that rainbow, you’ll never know it was even there. And just think how that rainbow must feel that you never saw it shining so colorfully in the sky.

Love your friends, and tell them so. Seek out the rainbows, and relish in their simplistic beauty. See all the wonders that can be from a chance visit to the store. Make connections in your world, and open your eyes to all the things that you might overlook, cause you’re too busy to see them. Trust in your dreams, and know that you can do anything. And never underestimate the power of simple gestures.