GIRLFRIENDS = SURVIVAL
Hello my darling Poopies. What a day it is here! 65 degrees in the middle of January! Who could ever have imagined winter, thus far, would be so mild? I am very grateful for the temperate weather and the opportunity to spend outdoor time playing with my PoopieGirls. Wintertime at the park is a rare treat and we are definitely taking advantage of it around here! The warm, sunny weather also allowed me the chance to go for a jog outside this morning…something I haven’t done in awhile and definitely need to do more often, as it felt soooo good. Part of why it felt so nice was due to the physical endorphins I released. There is really nothing quite like it. But even more beneficial, was the quiet, uninterrupted and truly therapeutic time it gave me to think and reflect. Despite the major emotional roller coaster our upcoming move has put me on and all of the million things we’ve got going on because of it, I feel really, really calm right now – calm, clear and happy. Maybe I didn’t yesterday and perhaps I’ll feel differently tomorrow, but today at this very moment, I feel strong and balanced and at peace.
I started thinking about what might be contributing to this new sense of calmness and it occurred to me on my run that part of this is due to my solid and precious relationships with my girlfriends. I have a tremendous circle of women in my life who have shown me such support, love, devotion and strength. They are literally my lifeline sometimes when it all seems overwhelming and I just want to meltdown. Their positivity and reassurance and their unconditional patience with me is such a gift. They call and check on me and offer their assistance, always listening without judgment and I could not survive without them! Some of these treasured friends live here and are a consistent presence and source of love and humor I can draw upon when needed, and others lend their ears and hearts to me from afar. But each one of my friends is so truly special to me and I hope they know how I feel about them and how blessed I am they are in my life.
And so, poops, as I leave you for awhile, I hope you’ll meditate on the value of friendship and give thanks for the beautiful souls in your own lives who lift you up when you need it and carry you on their shoulders when you can barely hold on. The following are three wonderful MOMtras I cherish that always bring a smile to my face. As you read them, think about your own friendships and what they mean to you. And if you haven’t said it in awhile, let your friends know just how important they are to you:
”A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.”
“A friend is someone who is there for you when he’d rather be somewhere else.”
“A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same.”
Who are the people you picture when you say these MOMtras aloud? Especially that last one, right? Who are the incredible women in your lives who love you and care for you despite all your flaws and mistakes? (and if you’re like poops here, they love you despite your big fat foot being constantly in your mouth). What faces and names come to mind? You know who they are. You don’t have to think twice about it. If you’re really lucky, several people qualify and you’re still lucky if only one or two make the list. Sure, family is forever, there’s no question about that. But I think friendships can be too. If you nurture them, don’t take them for granted and keep their foundations in tact through challenging times, there is no reason they can’t last a lifetime. And what a gift that is – to know that no matter what happens, someone always has your back and you have theirs. In fact, one of my oldest friends in the world reminded me just last night about the priceless value of friendship when she stayed up way later then either of us should have on a “school night” and we had a good-old fashioned chat with a lot of solid listening, golden advice and, of course, hilarious laughter. It’s friends like this, where the time spent together is effortless and the connection is of pure quality that make friendships priceless.
Ok, you beautiful Poopies, I’m not sure exactly when I’ll be back online, so, please be patient with me and don’t forget about me! I certainly won’t forget about all of you! You are my biggest inspiration and the little blog community we’ve formed is important to me and I hope equally important to you. Have a wonderful weekend and I’ll definitely see you sooner than later! xxxoooxxxoooxxxooo.
