Virtual Friends, Real Heart

One of the most amazing things in my life occurred just after my daughter died last year. As I tried to grieve and figure out the new me in the new life that had just been dumped down upon me, something magical happened.

As news of our loss spread, the support sent in our direction increased. And this wasn't neighbors-bringing-banana-bread kind of support. This was letters, emails, Facebook messages, tweets in the hundreds, special gifts from anonymous readers, meals from local restaurants ordered from out of town "virtual" friends - THAT kind of support.

Instead of feeling alone in a brand new city (we had just recently moved from Chicago to South Carolina), I felt my spirit be buoyed.  I knew no one locally, and yet I experienced the feeling of falling into the arms of friends who were no where near my house, never mind my town.

As we form best friends (and even lovers) across the web nowadays, how do we make sure we are "there" when those people need us? How good are you at sending real love to a virtual (but very much real) friend?

April 26th is Hug a Friend Day. Most of my closest friends live nowhere near me - so can I even participate in this special day? Absolutely!

My plan is to go a bit further than Facebook and Twitter and Email, and do something really truly amazing for the friends who've been with me through "virtual" thick and thin. It will involve sending hilarious YouTube videos that I know they'll love, doing a lovebomb of sorts and telling my blog readers to all spend the day sending comments of encouragement to a friend battling depression, and finding as many picks of delicious chocolate to email to another sweet tooth loving friend.

I can't wait to spread a little real life love to my real heart friends on that day. What kind of virtual "hug" could you create?