on sympathetic joy

One of the greatest things you can do is have sympathetic joy. Your friends happiness is your happiness. Their win is your win. Their good news is your good news.

I am surrounded by such grounded and positive people, and anyone who doesn't fit that bill will excuse themselves. There is no room for jealousy and resentment when someone is truly happy for you. I am lucky enough to have had some friends for over twenty years and I am lucky enough to also have new friends, and the ethos is the same.

I was talking to a girlfriend about the concept of being * in love * with your friends. You love them for the good and the bad, the humanness of it all. You assume the best in your people. You celebrate their happiness. You get to experience the joy twice, theirs and your own.

You’ll notice if the people around you are not truly happy for you. All darkness comes to light, eventually.

ty