A LITTLE SUGAR IN A BITTER COFFEE ☕

North Of Italy, 10:30 PM

These past few days have been filled with intense prayer. 🙏🏻

It wipes away any kind of temptation that might creep in, but even more than that, it helps me forget my sense of loneliness and the white lies I sometimes tell at work to avoid admitting — especially to myself — that I hardly have any friends, and to avoid being looked at with pity.In particular, I’m discovering the power of the Liturgy of the Hours.

For now I’m listening to it on the CEI app, but in two or three weeks the printed version for the Lenten season 💜 and Easter time 🤍 should arrive.

Today my Daily Missal — for Sundays and weekdays — also arrived.

It’s definitely bulkier, but it fits in my bag, and at least I won’t have to buy the little missal every two months anymore.

I might keep that one in digital form.

It’s actually quite easy to find your way through it — I thought it would be worse.

At work today, despite everything I had to do and considering that I work part-time, I managed not to leave anything unfinished.

It was wonderful to see my desk completely clear (I know very well it won’t stay that way for long)!

I’m proud of myself and grateful — every now and then it feels good to say it. 😎

Later I learned that my aunt L’s father-in-law passed away. 💀

She announced it in the family WhatsApp group.

None of us knew this person, and my parents sent their condolences rather reluctantly, because they felt it was a bit forced, and in their opinion it was unnecessary to inform us in the first place.

Their coldness and sharpness saddened me a little, to be honest. 🍋

I believe that everyone deserves kind words at moments like these.

After all, in a larger sense we are all brothers and sisters, and supporting each other matters.

I briefly mentioned my point of view to my mother, but I immediately sensed from her tone of voice and body language that she was becoming defensive, so I didn’t insist.

I’m simply glad that I haven’t hardened to that extent.

Before ending this page, the two adorable dachshunds I met this morning along the avenue on my way to work definitely deserve a mention 🐕.

Their human companion was giving them treats and speaking to them with such sweetness 🥰💕.

From time to time they come back to my mind, and it feels like adding sugar to a bitter cup of coffee ☕.

I don’t know their official names, but in my mind I’d call them Potty and Witty!

How would you call them?

I'm very curious to know!