Everyone Needs a Cheerleader

A friend of mine has cancer.  She was told she was terminal and had about 18 months.  She has now passed that, is doing great, plays golf a couple of times a week and shows no sign of dying any time soon.  She attributes at least part of this so-called miraculous state to her team of cheerleaders.  Another friend is going through some serious marital problems, it has been difficult for her, but things are starting to look up; she claims she wouldn't be seeing this turn around if she didn't have great friends cheering her on.  Everybody needs a cheerleader now and again, even if it isn't anything as drastic as cancer, or as depressing as divorce.

I know this first hand.  I have just passed the one year mark of unemployment.  It has been a frustrating, exhilarating, frightening, freeing, and otherwise emotional year.  It would be easy to be discouraged and depressed; it would be easy to be bitter, it would be easy to give up.  Heaven knows there are a lot of people out there who want to help you go down that path.  I have written about the well-meaning but ultimately unhelpful folks in the past.  But I am also fortunate.  I have cheerleaders.

I have friends (some of whom are family) who have been encouraging and supportive.  There is the aforementioned friend with cancer who has been unfailingly upbeat and positive, telling me that holding out for the dream is not just a good idea, but an obvious one.  There have been my brothers who are always willing to listen to me, always quick to give good advice when I ask, or just be silently supportive when I don't.  There are the friends who have offered me a roof over my head without hesitation, and who are pulling out the stops to help me through ideas and introductions.

They have pulled out the tough love when needed, provided the strong shoulder, the good laughs, and trotted out the pep talks when I was discouraged.   These are people who have unfailingly been in my corner, regardless.  Cheering me on, telling me the upside, and agreeing that yes, something good is just around the corner - they can feel it.

We all need a cheerleader.  I am fortunate and more grateful than I can say that I have a squad of them.