Define: effortless

I didn't plan on going online this afternoon, and wanted to get enough sleep before work, but a friend texted about a tsunami alert. He doesn't have a TV at home, nor internet, so I went online and turned on the TV to check the news, and pass on what I see.

The news wasn't pretty at all.

And everywhere else in social networking-dom, news of the Japan earthquake and resulting tsunami are posted.

In between checking for new updates and texting people to be safe, I go over random people's profiles, old and new: old friends, new friends, past relationships, current relationships, close family, not-so-close family, and everyone else in between. The chaos outside is a reflection of the chaos within. In between status updates of the breaking news are updates of heartbreak, triumph, lost love, found love, lost hope, new hope, bad news and good news, and everything else in between.

While pictures don't represent real life, they capture moments. Even if in real life we're not smiling all the time, the pictures tell that for those moments captured by the lens, we are smiling and happy because of whatever little thing that that moment was about.

When you find people you're comfortable working with, you grab the opportunity to work with them more.

When you meet friends who are good to you and help you be better, you stay friends with them beyond geography, age or marital status.

When you are given a family to take care of, and who takes care of you, you protect them and look after them.

When you meet people who can make you smile and laugh, you talk to them often until you can't remember what you look like frowning.

When you cross paths with someone who loves you even when you're not at your spectacular best, you stay with that person and give each other strength.

Relationships are supposed to be simple and effortless. If what you're in now is not, leave. Your time is best spent with someone else. If what you're in now is, stay. Savor the moments that make this short and unpredictable life worthwhile.