Pondering the pillars of personal stability and growth, I thought of Faith, Family, and Friends. I was excited about my alliteration until I looked it up online and found a ton of “Faith, Family, and Friends,” so it’s nothing new; I am not that original.

But the concept is still good. These are the three pillars to base one’s life on:

Faith: that there is something bigger than oneself, that you are not the center of the universe. That you stop and realize, and appreciate, that you are grateful for what you have, the blessings that you enjoy, like being able to read this blog!

There is a really deep well inside me. And in it dwells God. Sometimes I am there, too…. Dear God, these are anxious times…. We must help You to help ourselves. And that is all we can manage these days, and also all that really matters: that we safeguard that little piece of You, God, in ourselves.

—Etty Hillesum, An Interrupted Life

Or

In God alone is my soul at rest.

God is the source of my hope.

In God I find shelter, my rock, and my safety.

—Psalm 62:5–6

Friends: this is a situation where less is more, where quality is more important than quantity, where you can share and get advice, sometimes without asking for it! In fact, friends is the reason this blog post came about. I recently drove to Naples (the Florida one), my old stomping ground, to visit some friends: Lukas, my old student, and Edu, my old boss, now dear friends. Yes, I had a 2-hour drive each way, but it was worth it. As a follow-up, I am going to an Inter Miami game with Lukas, not so much for soccer as for friendship.

Family: goes without saying.

So, make sure you are working on your relationships, all three of them! You are welcome.