June 17, 2022

“If you have even one friend who says, ‘we’re not even going to talk about it, I’m coming,’  you are among the luckiest people in the world.” (p.56)

You never know where a lifelong connection will start.  My friend who inspired this quote dates back to the 1990 volleyball season as we subbed in and out for each other...me in the front row, she in the back. Since that time, we have traveled the world and supported each other through relationship struggles, sickness, and the loss of her tiny but mighty mom who taught life to so many in the time she was with us.  A few years ago, as I couldn’t put off a simple meniscus surgery on my knee, I said to her, 

‘I’m fine, the kids will help me for a few days and we’ll get through it.’ But her response was ‘we aren’t even going to talk about it, I’m coming.’ 

It can be hard to ask for help. Our pride wants to take over and we fear being a burden on other people. But it’s through our vulnerability that our sense of connection is nurtured and inspires deeper knowledge of what it means to be a human in relationship with another.  Often we think of connection as a romantic or significant other thing, but having any relationship in our life that we know we can count on without question is invaluable to our life experience and takes away the lonely feeling.  It’s been my experience that it's not the quantity of human relationships we have but the deep and authentic quality of them.  I’m blessed to have had this girl in my corner for 30 years. She is one of life’s true gifts.  Happy Birthday E, thank you for being the listening, giving, learning human that you are.  

Daily Action: Reach out to that friend who is always there for you and tell them thank you. Do you serve this role for someone else?  What can you do for them today?

Daily Reframe: If we are the friend who shows up for others in our time of need the favor will be returned.      

With Optimism,

Wendy