Since I met J...

My life has been amazing, spontaneous, full of adventure and surprise, chaotic, and sometimes enough to drive me crazy!

2007: met J. He moved to Victoria
2008: J moved back to Winnipeg, we had our first apartment, and bought our first house. We ended the year in November by getting engaged!
2009: we married in Arizona and I got pregnant with peanut
2010: we welcomed peanut into our lives, J started working our of town, we got pregnant with bug
2011: we visited Arizona again, we welcomed bug into our lives, we sold our home
2012: we moved to a new home in a new community 


So what's in store this year? 
2013: we are travelling to Rome! J turns 30 this year and I surprised him with a trip. His parents are going us and although I don't want to wish the summer away, I am really looking forward to is trip.

Peanut also starts preschool in September which will change our routine as she goes twice a week in Steinbach. I'm really happy with the school and I think she'll love it.  I think it will be just as hard on bug.....

I love my life, through all our ups and downs, through everything we've done already and those adventures that will still come our way, I can happily say we've done it together.  

"Life is either a great adventure, or nothing" - Helen Keller 

She carries the whole world in her hands.....

I love a good girl chat. I have lots of friendships that I have developed or reignited this year and our talks and visits are awesome!  We generally talk light hearted, but every now and then family or personal issues enter the conversation.  although I can not relate to some of their issues, I know its not always up to me to solve their problems.  Sometimes just an ear will do.....

........But then night comes.

And I start replaying their problems, searching for solutions, advice, a great quote to inspire, or anything I can do to help.

Ok, so here's the issue.  I have my own stresses. My own problems. My own life dealings. I found especially this month that I'm internalizing a lot of issues.  I'm feeling their pressure like my own. But it's not.  I know its not in my logical mind, but my heart just breaks for them, and wants to help.

So, here's what I'm asking, how do you provide great support for friends without worrying and internalizing their problems? How do you separate their issues from your own? How do you stop feeling their pressure tangled into your own?

I need some peace but I still want to be a good friend, listener and someone they feel comfortable sharing with if and when they need, but at the same time I can't keep going in this direction of worrying about the whole world.  It's simply too much..... Help!