Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Happy Best Friends Day!


Is it bad that I don't have one best friend? Apparently today is national (unofficial) Best Friends Day. Who knew? I learn something on social media every day! But I can't say I have just one best friend, because each of my close friends is "the best" for me in their own, unique way. 


There's the friend who calls out my bulls**t.

If I'm feeling confused or badly used, she's the one I call because she's really good at identifying the source of the trouble. When she perceives something I'm missing, she shows me another view. She values the same kind of feedback from me. We also play and enjoy socializing, but those heavy discussions glue us together.

There's the friend who has known me forever.

She knows my family, hometown, childhood, and all three of the husbands I've had. We've been there for nearly all the important events in each other's lives and always will. We spend little time together now, but she literally understands where I'm coming from. The bond we share is deep and unbreakable.

There's the friend who likes to do things. 

If either of us wants to see a show, listen to live music, check out a new shopping center, go to the gym--pretty much anything fun--we ask each other to go. We have a lot in common and talk freely about everything. She helps me enjoy being in the moment because that's what we focus on...doing something active and fun, talking about what's happening now.

There's the friend who makes work awesome.

We met working knee-to-knee in an office, and I learned how great teamwork can be. To be productive and provide great value, learning from and trusting one another, with no stupid drama, whilst supporting each other as human beings and becoming true friends, is work heaven. We've chosen to work together on many projects. We also show up for each other's happy and hard times outside of work--because we are friends.

There's the friend who kept me in her life after the job/club/neighborhood ended.

It's easy to be friends when you see each other regularly; even easier to let that friendship expire after one of you leaves. I adore the friends who didn't let that happen. Some time passes now between visits, and that's okay. It takes effort to stay friends when you lose proximity. You have to find new times and places to get together, invite each other. For these few very special friends, it's so worth it!

There's my dog. 

He has to be included because he's my constant companion and I really enjoy his company. We can be together all week and not tire of each other. And he's there for me; when I'm sad, sick, or tired, he stays close. When I'm up, he's ready for action. He's my errand buddy, play mate, and stress reliever. He has other friends...our cat, my husband...but when I call he comes running.


I count my husband, sister, daughter, son, cousin, and adult nieces among this select group of best friends. They're closest to my heart. Thank God they've been willing to let our relationships grow beyond the early roles we played, and become friends who like each other and want to be together.

There are more: Precious in-laws and former in-laws who became not just relatives, but friends. Friends of family members (especially my parents' friends who are even more dear to me since my parents have passed on). Friends from school days--waaaay back--whom I rarely see, yet when we get together the chemistry is exactly the same and we pick up right where we left off.

Together, these friends meet every need and make me feel loved in ways no one person could. I appreciate them so much that writing about it has made me choke up with emotion. And you know what? There's room in my life for more.

Okay, maybe I don't have a best friend. But I have the best friends I could ever want.