I don't know about you.
But friendship means a lot to me.
A whole lot.
I have been blessed to have grown up with not one, but two of the greatest friends in all the ages. (this is just my opinion, though, I am pretty sure it is true.)
Because I have had two of the most stable friendships for over fifteen years of my life
I think I have a pretty good sounding board for what I look for in friendships and how friendship is defined in my world.
I know that McCall and Melissa (my nearest and dearest from childhood) aren't my family.
But as (another) one of my dear friend's husband put it so aptly in his grooms speech to one of his friends:
"I know were not blood, but I swear, I swear we are. And I would ride my bike 8000 more times over that hill to get to you everyday."
This is exactly how I feel about my friendships with McCall and Melissa.
I swear we are blood.
Although I know, physically we are not, Heart wise, we are.
And I mean it with all my heart when I say,
I would drive, fly, run or swim 8000 miles, 8000 times to get to them over and over again.
Because of this insanely strong bond formed years ago,
I think friendship, for me, is defined a little differently than it is for others.
I have been told,
in not so nice of ways
that I have too high of a standard for friendships
and that I compare everyone to the two above.
Maybe that is true.
And I promise, If you are my friend, It never happens intentionally.
And I will work on it.
But really,
what is so bad about having such an amazing foundation and standard for something so important in every persons life?
As they say:
" Friends are the only family you are able to choose."
And I add:
So choose wisely.
I have learned that not everyone is meant to be friends.
(duh, I am sure most people have figured this out.)
But I have also found what makes a great friendship for me.
Friendships should be easy.
Granted there will be some misunderstanding,
Hurt feelings,
and maybe even some fights where you think things are over
every once in awhile.
But even in those times.
The mending should be easy.
In my friendships with McCall and Melissa,
It is so easy.
but in reality it really shouldn't be that easy.
They both live about 500 miles away from my tiny dot on the map in opposite directions.
We all live very different lives.
We all have our own best friends right their beside us on our places on the map.
yet despite the distance,
the different path's of life
and the new friendships
it is still so so easy to have them and call them my nearest and dearest.
My friends from college that I have carried with me to the 'here and now'.
It is easy.
And granted when you are in college you tend to have 'way more friends' than you do after your exit from college.
And some of those 'friends' I had in college
I have had to let go of.
Why?
Because it was too hard.
And I don't mean hard as in
We are too far apart.
We work on totally different schedules.
She is getting married and I am single.
No. I am talking 'Matters of the Heart' too hard.
Sometimes two people's hearts just don't mesh and link.
Even if you tried your damnedest.
But with my three best friends I have hear, post college.
Well again, it is easy.
Our hearts are linked.
And they will be for a long long time.
And to the friends I have just recently met.
My TB mafia as we are called.
Again.
It is so easy.
And with these girls,
not only do miles separate us,
but so do years
and babies
and jobs
and interests.
You could not find a more diverse group of women who my heart has been linked with.
and Despite those differences.
It is so easy.
So so easy.
I say all this because.
I have had to let go of friendships.
whether it be a mutual silent parting.
A rip that burns and then takes years to heal (and some still haven't).
Or Whether it be solely one parties fault, or mine alone.
Some times 'friendships' are just lost.
And that is always sad.
But
I have found I am ok with letting go with some (or a lot)
To have my heart linked with just a few that I know
I would
drive, fly, run or swim 8000 miles, 8000 times to get to them over and over again.
But friendship means a lot to me.
A whole lot.
I have been blessed to have grown up with not one, but two of the greatest friends in all the ages. (this is just my opinion, though, I am pretty sure it is true.)
Because I have had two of the most stable friendships for over fifteen years of my life
I think I have a pretty good sounding board for what I look for in friendships and how friendship is defined in my world.
I know that McCall and Melissa (my nearest and dearest from childhood) aren't my family.
But as (another) one of my dear friend's husband put it so aptly in his grooms speech to one of his friends:
"I know were not blood, but I swear, I swear we are. And I would ride my bike 8000 more times over that hill to get to you everyday."
This is exactly how I feel about my friendships with McCall and Melissa.
I swear we are blood.
Although I know, physically we are not, Heart wise, we are.
And I mean it with all my heart when I say,
I would drive, fly, run or swim 8000 miles, 8000 times to get to them over and over again.
Because of this insanely strong bond formed years ago,
I think friendship, for me, is defined a little differently than it is for others.
I have been told,
in not so nice of ways
that I have too high of a standard for friendships
and that I compare everyone to the two above.
Maybe that is true.
And I promise, If you are my friend, It never happens intentionally.
And I will work on it.
But really,
what is so bad about having such an amazing foundation and standard for something so important in every persons life?
As they say:
" Friends are the only family you are able to choose."
And I add:
So choose wisely.
I have learned that not everyone is meant to be friends.
(duh, I am sure most people have figured this out.)
But I have also found what makes a great friendship for me.
Friendships should be easy.
Granted there will be some misunderstanding,
Hurt feelings,
and maybe even some fights where you think things are over
every once in awhile.
But even in those times.
The mending should be easy.
In my friendships with McCall and Melissa,
It is so easy.
but in reality it really shouldn't be that easy.
They both live about 500 miles away from my tiny dot on the map in opposite directions.
We all live very different lives.
We all have our own best friends right their beside us on our places on the map.
yet despite the distance,
the different path's of life
and the new friendships
it is still so so easy to have them and call them my nearest and dearest.
My friends from college that I have carried with me to the 'here and now'.
It is easy.
And granted when you are in college you tend to have 'way more friends' than you do after your exit from college.
And some of those 'friends' I had in college
I have had to let go of.
Why?
Because it was too hard.
And I don't mean hard as in
We are too far apart.
We work on totally different schedules.
She is getting married and I am single.
No. I am talking 'Matters of the Heart' too hard.
Sometimes two people's hearts just don't mesh and link.
Even if you tried your damnedest.
But with my three best friends I have hear, post college.
Well again, it is easy.
Our hearts are linked.
And they will be for a long long time.
And to the friends I have just recently met.
My TB mafia as we are called.
Again.
It is so easy.
And with these girls,
not only do miles separate us,
but so do years
and babies
and jobs
and interests.
You could not find a more diverse group of women who my heart has been linked with.
and Despite those differences.
It is so easy.
So so easy.
I say all this because.
I have had to let go of friendships.
whether it be a mutual silent parting.
A rip that burns and then takes years to heal (and some still haven't).
Or Whether it be solely one parties fault, or mine alone.
Some times 'friendships' are just lost.
And that is always sad.
But
I have found I am ok with letting go with some (or a lot)
To have my heart linked with just a few that I know
I would
drive, fly, run or swim 8000 miles, 8000 times to get to them over and over again.
Peace,
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