Last week I wrote in my weekly newsletter how I was dealing with COVID, on my 8th day of it, as a matter of fact. Well, I returned to the gym and three days later I had a bit of a relapse. Guess I jumped too soon.

But that meant my world slowed down, during a time when so many people seemed to have lost their lives in Charlotte, in Utah, atop the remembrance of New York and DC. I felt like it was COVID time all over again, and I almost didn’t want to come out of my room.

I emphasized to my followers and friends to avoid engagement with people who chastise them or whatever they represented. I still believe that, but I want to clarify in light of current events.

We can hold conversations if we have differing views. I have loads of friends in both parties. I have friends who are and are not Christian. I have old and young friends, gay and straight friends, published and unpublished friends, gym and non-gym friends.

To be honest, there’s nobody exactly like me.

Just like there’s nobody exactly like you.

To wait to find someone just like you in order to get along is a long lonely journey that often has no arrival. That means in order to have friends, you have to get along with people who do not think like you do in all that you believe.

Everyone I love has something about them I disagree with. Everyone you love will disappoint you one day. If you cannot deal with the differences, you will indeed live alone.

However, do not engage those who are toxic and do not wish discourse. You have no idea what kind of issues are raging in that person’s life. If they are full of hate, be careful. Let them hate your work, your post, your position.

Let them. You don’t need the drama, and, honestly, they probably don’t either. Your energies are best spent elsewhere. Don’t fuel the fires.

Live your life, write your stories, and do your thing to the best of your ability. Someone will always think otherwise of you and what you do. But still, there will be others who appreciate what you do. There is nobody like you. There is nobody exactly like anyone.

BIO – C. Hope Clark is the author of The Edisto Island Mysteries, the Carolina Slade Mysteries, and The Craven County Mysteries.– www.chopeclark.com