“What about your friends, will they stand their ground? Will they let you down, again?” – TLC

I have said it before and I will say it again, until I’m blue in the face. I have some of the most wonderful friends that a woman could hope for. Our friendships go back over 30 years. We have lost touch and reconnected many times over. But, the most important thing is that we always reconnected. We have been there for each other through good and bad. We’ve agreed with each other, and we’ve disagreed. Our friendships only got stronger.

A recent “girl’s trip” built our bonds even tighter. And, my recent surgery brought us even more closer. Not many people do I allow to see me in a vulnerable place. I’m not accustomed to asking for or accepting help. I’ve always taken pride in my independence and resilience. Just like at the beginning of the year, my recent setbacks brought to light just how blessed I am with the tribe of women that I surround myself with.

There’s no need for second guessing, doubts, or concern. They show up, stand tall, and their crowns of greatness shine bright. They don’t see the awesomeness that I see in them, and that is okay. I see it and I will always tell them. They are beacons of light and love at all times, but especially in times of need. They don’t need explanations or a paragraph of details. They just need the door unlocked for them to walk through. They don’t expect accolades. They stand their ground, because they can.

It is said that you are who you surround yourself with. I completely agree. I pride myself in being a caring, loving, honest, and dependable person and friend. I surround myself with the same. We don’t compete with each other. We don’t compare ourselves to one another. We accept each other, faults and all. We tell each other when we are being ridiculous or are wrong. We don’t judge. We just love.

Our acts of kindness don’t have to be grand. A simple “thinking of you” text, a bottle of wine left at a doorstep, a ride to the doctor or surgery, picking up extra fruit when we buy ours, bringing a much needed medicine, cooking a meal, a handwritten letter, or a simple reminder to take our medication are ways to show we care. Friendships should be nurtured and held dear. Intimate relationships come and go, but our lifelong friendships can be our constants. They give us stability, and we reap the rewards in ways we can never count or measure.

If you don’t have a group of friends that hold you up when you are down, I ask that you reevaluate the friendships that you currently have. Life is special, so why not have special people in yours?

#itsatamithing