When Bad Things Happen to Good People

I had a hit to the stomach yesterday. I am currently single, but I obviously haven't always been so. I was in a wonderful relationship with a terrific man for over 4 years. He truly is the most compassionate, attentive, and supportive partner I've ever had, but for us, there was still something missing. It was a very difficult, but necessary, ending.

As life goes on, I was informed by a mutual friend that he has a girlfriend, and apparently a pretty serious one. My genuine thought is that I'm happy for him. Nevertheless, I'm human, and I was overwhelmed with a sense of "what's wrong with me?" It's a recurring theme for my life, and though I often remember how smart, funny, and moderately attractive I am, sometimes I'm still overwhelmed with a sense of grief - grief over the end of such a wonderful time in my life, grief over not having someone to share my days with, and grief over being so easily "replaceable." I know it's not quite so simple in my head, but my heart is a difficult force to reckon with.

So, why do bad things happen to good people? [What are good people anyway? Maybe that'll be another blog...] Why do some people seem to have all the "luck" and others have difficulty with the most mundane of situations? Some say that there are no "bad" things that happen, just lessons that must be learned. A friend is always telling me that life is just meant to be lived, whatever may be will be, and there's no good in worrying about it or trying to rationalize it. (This friend also lives on an island in the Caribbean, where his days and nights are filled with sand, blue water, and the most amazing of sea breezes. More about him is sure to come...) Why do some people find their "soulmate," which will surely be yet another blog topic, early in life and others of us are constantly looking under every nook and cranny? (Ok, truly, that sounds WAY desperate than I really am...seriously.) You understand the sentiment, though, right?

So, for now, I am again looking for the incline out of the valley onto another mountain, and trying desperately to remember that all the growth and maturation occur during the difficult times and "this too shall pass."