I've noticed lately that a significant number of my friends are going through trying times.  I've been thinking about how I can be a good friend to these people but struggle with getting so caught up in other's problems that it drags me down into a gloomy mindset.  What is the balance here?  When does sympathy become excessive?  It does no one any good if I am weighed down by the burdens that are not my own, yet sharing burdens is one aspect of compassion.  How can I be compassionate and empathetic while maintaining my own good mental health?

I wish the best for my friends.  I pray for them continually.  Some of the problems they face are daunting.  Yet I see in many of them an underlying cheerfulness in the face of adversity.  That's a rare gift and one that is worth emulating.  I'm not without struggles myself.  It is helpful to keep perspective and a positive outlook.

I will continue to offer support to my friends, helping when I can, and offering prayer when I can't.  Balance.

A little lunchtime blogging.  The kittens are both fine.  I took them to the vet where they were very good little boys.  I like this vet a lot.  She has an excellent manner with cats and there are several cats living in the office.  I like her philosophy on cat care, too.  She doesn't believe in over treating.  Her assistants are also very good.

Things at work are going well.  I'm doing some coding for a project our team is working on and it is very satisfying to work closely with the end users, getting their feedback and making something they will use frequently.  I keeps me motivated when things get a little tedious.

I have taken quite a few kitten pictures.  I'll put up one or two tonight.

I have new additions to my family.  Two very cute and very feisty male kittens about 3 weeks old.  (Aren't all kittens cute?)  I have been planning on getting a cat for over a year now.  I grew up with cats and have missed having one around the house for about the last 20 years or so.  My former roommate was not a big cat fan, but now I am living on my own and can have cats, so I got two.  Unfortunately one seems to have come down with a respiratory infection, so I am feeding it medicine twice a day for a while.  I'll try to put up some pictures later.

I'm loving the new apartment.  It's a really nice place, open and airy.  I need to get some more furniture to fill the space, but it is comfortable and it's home.  It's strange, ever since going away to school, home has been "back there", and in some ways it still is, but now home is where I am, and that's the way it should be.