I tried to inconspicuously make my way back into this circle of friends， not ex-pecting it to be easy. I assumed I was going to get what I deserved which was forthem to be cold and exclude me as I had done to them. I had to take that chance.
I was completely caught off guard by how little effort was needed to feel wel-comed again. There was absolutely no resentment， only comfort and an unexpect-ed sense of belonging. It was incredible， as though there were no time lapse. Wejust picked up right where we left off. Over the next months I realized the more Ihung out with them， the less insecure I became. I was a new person with them...one I liked.
But， there was something that I didnt get， something about it being too easy. Imean， werent they hurt when I had so obviously chosen these other friends overthem？ Didnt they lose faith in me， or resent the fact that I had taken their friendshipfor granted？ I just didnt feel I could truly fit in again until these issues were dealtwith. I needed answers.
They came a few months later at a camp-out I organized just for the kinder-garten group （we joked that it was a makeup for not inviting them to the bat mitz-vah）. When the sun went down we huddled up around the campfire. All night welaughed， roasted marshmallows （and old teachers）， counted shooting stars andtalked. I finally felt safe enough to bring up my questions. I stumbled through themand waited. After a moment， only awkward for me， one of them said， "Yeah， maybeit hurt a little， but..."he shrugged， "1 dont know， I guess..， we just understood. "Andthat was that. They just understood.
They saw me change. They gave me room， freedom to screw up， to grow andlearn my own lessons， my own way， in my own time. Through the years， weve allhad our phases， our ups and downs， and I expect well continue because thats theway it goes. We know we will be each others constant from now on. We will all con-tinue to grow separately together， all the while providing the unconditional love， un-derstanding and support only friends like these are capable of.
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——北京大学东方文学研究中心特聘教授 方江文
现代人的生活节奏快，压力大，普通百姓又没有时间去看大部头的书籍，《心灵鸡汤》可以给你一份温情，让你在酷暑感到凉爽，在寒冬享受温暖，在春天播下爱的种子，在秋天收获勤奋的果实。我爱《心灵鸡汤》，像爱厨房里新端出的一盘青菜，餐桌上新烧出的一盆老豆腐。愿把《心灵鸡汤》奉献给你的家庭，换来孩子的健康成长，老人的欢声笑语。
——南开大学教授 王宏印
《心灵鸡汤》弘扬“真善美”，以“醒心”为己任。书中叙述的一段段人生经历能感动你，催你潸然泪下，因为那些事就发生在你身边，与你息息相关……失恋的人读之能重振对生活的信心，遭受病痛之苦的人读之似服灵丹妙药，孤独的人读之如沐“关怀”的春雨，丧失亲人者读之会感受到来白四面八方的慰藉……它是一扇窗户，让你了解世界：它是一座桥梁，连接你我他……
——苏州大学外国语学院教授 方华文
《心灵鸡汤》之所以能拨动人的心弦，是因为书中的话语全来自灵魂深处，是“肺腑之言”！人与人之间的隔阂与冷漠必须靠这种“真情”打破和消除——如此，人世间便会温情涌动、冰山消融……读了书中动人的故事，凡是有良知的人，其内心不可能不受到触动——《心灵鸡汤》之功大矣！
——商务印书馆《英语世界》主编 魏令查