"There is a connectedness that makes everything easier just knowing you exist. Part of our journeys toward enlightenment."

... a beautiful comment by a beautiful friend, this morning as we were thankful together for having met more than a decade ago, and for all our adventures together since then. Perhaps there are echoes of a remark by Anton Chekhov about Leo Tolstoy and the blessing of shared hard work:

... when literature has a Tolstoy, it is easy and gratifying to be a writer. Even if you are aware that you have never accomplished anything, you don't feel so bad, because Tolstoy accomplishes enough for everyone ...

... just as friends help one another every step along the path, we lift each other up whenever someone falls!

And perhaps there are also echoes of the song "Our House" – which inspired another beautiful friend, more than a decade ago, to bestow the trail names "Cat One" and "Cat Two":

With two cats in the yard
Life used to be so hard
Now everything is easy
'Cause of you.

Yes! 🐈 🐈‍⬛

(21 July 2023 chat-observation by Dr Mary; cf Virtual Friendships (1999-11-05), Chekhov on Tolstoy (2005-07-15), Running Friendships (2012-03-06), Friendship and Meditation (2012-11-06), Mantra - For Us (2015-11-28), ...) - ^z - 2023-07-21