Cheerleaders Wanted

I have to admit C.S. Lewis was brilliant. He said so eloquently, regarding friendship, that it is not a necessity for survival. There is no need for a BFF on a desert island. He likened the need of a bosom buddy to art or philosophy; they are non essentials for the daily grind. Which makes total sense, I always thought my college friends who were Philosophy and Art History majors were unpractical. When are you going to use that? What career pays for you to sit around and discuss the significance of man? However, he doesn't stop there; he continued by saying that companionship of a kindred spirit gives value to this existence. I know I often find myself meandering each day, fulfilling my duties with a cloud over my head. Like Eeyore, I respond in a most melancholy manner, and perform in a most mediocre method. Despite my gloomy disposition, I always encounter a ray of sunshine when a comrade at work emails me a funny joke, a pal shoots me a "how ya doing?" voicemail, or a confidant calls me over to get a cup of coffee and talk. Yes...when I feel like I am going through the motions, and I believe that no one is watching, no one detects my weariness, no one has a clue that I got the "blues," I always get a friendly note, a kind message, a word of encouragement that empowers me to push on with meaning. Friends make surviving have value. A meaningful life is the theme of debate for the philosopher, and the subject of the artist. This Gloomy Gus is grateful for the emoticons!