When life has got me down, I’ve always found the most unexpected people help pick me back up. I’m not saying my close friends and family don’t play that role. I guess I’m just always surprised when someone I don’t purposefully turn to finds a way to make me feel better.

I was chatting online a few nights ago with my high school sweetheart (HSSH) — the guy whom for four years I dated on and off (as high schoolers are wont to do). After that kind of history our relationship was doomed. He’s married now, but we’ve stayed friends — although I wouldn’t say close friends. We talk once every blue moon or so, but he checked in on me the other night, knowing I’d been dumped.

An excerpt from the conversation:

HSSH: has the ex tried to talk to you?
MG: nope, thank God, he’s left me alone
HSSH: that’s good. you never know with that kinda crap what is going to happen
MG: i know. i’m more worried i’m going to run into him at a bar or at the grocery store or something. knoxville isn’t that big
HSSH: true, but you’ll be the bigger person when you do
MG: yep. i’ve tried to mentally prepare myself for it ..i know i’ll be the better person in the long run … right now it’s just still getting used to just a different life and forcing myself to go out a little more with friends — which you know is hard for me, i’m such a homebody
HSSH: haha, some things never change
HSSH: and he’ll want you back whenever he sees you
MG: well, his loss then
HSSH: exactly, haha. now you get a chance to find what you want EXACTLY
MG: and that’s what i plan to do

It’s not so much the substance of the conversation that I found encouraging. It’s the fact that after all these years my original ex-boyfriend is cheering me on.