Wow, are good friends important to have. If you think you can do this life alone, you’re dead wrong. Our very nature calls us into relationship with one another. There are some immeasurably beautiful souls out there that instantly and immediately recognize that relational calling of your soul to them.
“Happiness [is] only real when shared” – Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild
I love the timing of meeting important people. It always makes sense and seems to fit right where it should. New friendships that feel as if they’ve always been. They feel as if entire lives were lived together before. Perhaps they were.
When that connection happens, you have to value it and nurture it. It’s so easy to get caught up in chasing our goals and dreams that we don’t think we have time for new friends when really those new relationships bridge the gap to our dreams. Those are the connections we need that seem to give us that extra breath when we’re out of breath.
Good friends remind you to stay in the fight, good friends remind you of your value, good friends remind you that you have strength.
There is nothing I can do that is of great value without good people in my life. I’ve personally had great people in my life. There’s been some not-great ones too but that’s not where I focus. My focus is on the people that I know God strategically set in my life to help me walk through whatever craziness I had to walk through at that time.
Sometimes I think back to when I was in college and very broke, the girls at Einstein Bros. on Pitt’s campus that would hook me up with free bagels and other places where I worked and went to school that I would get free food. I didn’t ask for it, but my bank account at the time certainly wouldn’t urge me too much to push it away. I was always so thankful for those people and still am today. There’s names I would name but they might get in trouble where they work… So, you know who you are, and thank you so much.
That brings up this point. Let people be nice to you. Humble yourself. Sometimes you’re down, sometimes you’re out. Let good people that want to lift you up, lift you up. We get so caught in our pride thinking we have to be in control all of the time and be perfectly put together when you and I know that we are, at any moment, anything but completely put together. We need a lot of things to make us whole, or at least almost whole. Another’s kindness and good people are those missing pieces. You’re not too strong to be loved. You’re not so grown up that you can’t let someone pick you up.
When I think of the beautiful souls that have been in my life, these names come to mind (I’ll only say their first names to protect their privacy… and believe me, this is NOT a complete list of the many beautiful and inspirational souls that have meshed with mine, just a few names that are popping up in my mind now. I’ll remember a ton more later after I post this, I’m sure): Karen, Rose, Aurora, Bart, Jeff, Eduardo, Judy, Mark, Jack, Joyce, Mandy, Jessica, Alex, Chris, Vicky, Matt, Dan, Arge, Carrie, Tony, Autumn, Rob, Dave, Lina, Pamela, Michelle, Tiffany, Jen, Eric, Jenna, Marla, Alison, Erin, MaryBeth, Sam…
So many people that have made my life what it is. Taught me how to love and so importantly, how to be loved.
Open yourself to good people. Be brave and allow vulnerability to be a strength.
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