The Journey Inward

"A real friendship will give you that sense of "belongingness."  When you think the world has abandoned you, there's that someone who helps you see your worth and makes you feel that you always matter to them."  ~Dodinsky

Next to my children (who are becoming more like friends the older they get), my friendships are my most important, rewarding and fulfilling relationships in life.  They mean everything to me.  I nurture them, depend on them, rejoice in them and celebrate them.  

Here are random thoughts about friendship...

~my two oldest friends have been with me since we were in diapers.  As we always say, we'll be together from diapers to diapers!

~I've had other friends since kindergarten and elementary school, so anywhere from 45-50 years.  We have reunions every summer!

~One of my closest friends I met in high school.  She was really hard to get to know, stoic and quiet.  I made it my project to get her to talk to me!  She finally did and we've been incredibly close ever since.

~I made another best friend in college.  She and I lived together, got married the same year, got pregnant every other year so we could trade maternity clothes back and forth, and now we work together.

~I made three good friends in my first teaching position.  One I talk to every week and see every month.  One I see once or twice a year, but we dive right back in.  One I lost contact with for a few years and now we're back like we never missed a beat.

~When I moved to a new house in 1996, I met a neighbor just moving in, as well.  We became very close and raised our kids together.  Her oldest and my middle were born two weeks apart.  

~I met another great friend when we were bringing our daughters to visit their preschool.  We became fast friends, as did our three girls each, and we've been going strong for 24 years!

~My writing group is made up of women I adore and see every week.  We agree that between talking, writing, sharing and petting my dogs, it's like therapy.

~I have 4 close friends at work.  We laugh a lot.  We're there for each other.  We show up as we are.

~I met my daughter's boyfriend's mom one weekend at college.  My daughter had told me we would love each other and we did.  For a few years, we kept our friendship on the downlow because we didn't want them to feel any pressure.  Once they were engaged, we came out into the glorious light!  She lives in Denver, but the 2 hour time difference works for my late nights and her early mornings!  

~I have lots of acquaintances I'm grateful for and I enjoy meeting new people.  

~My friendships are such a give and take, so natural without scorekeeping.  We take care of each other, help each other, love each other.

Photo:  An amazing book my friend, Sara, gave me about good friends. 7.25.22 by LA

Each day this month, I am reading and writing about an entry from gentle reminders:  SIMPLE TRUTHS FOR A MEANINGFUL LIFE by Dodinsky.  This book was given to me after my divorce by a friend, with this inscription: "Let your soul sparkle."