Who's That Girl?

People come and go in your life – sometimes it hurts, sometimes you feel relief, peace, connected and sometimes you sit in awe realizing just how significant and important that person was or is.  I have always had several friends, acquaintances, work colleagues that in some cases have even become like family and I have always felt so fortunate to get to know so many incredible people – each and every one of them.  Whether it be friends from school (elementary/high school), dance, work, parents at Mila’s school, or my ride or die besties (you know who you are) – each person has had an impact on my life whether it has been for a short period of time or the long haul.  I don’t view any friendships as any less depending on time.  Through each friendship I’ve learned so much because each person brings such depth and personality to that relationship.  As you grow, your friends can change because you can change as a person too and again, that is no reflection of that friendship being any less significant, it is just that it has run its course.  No harsh judgements or negative feelings towards them – just love, always.  That is all I feel for anyone and everyone around me.  There is no time for anger or resentment in a world that is filled with such hostility as is.  Even if the friendship didn’t end perfectly, I still always wish the very best for people.

More recently someone from my very early teen years reconnected and it has been so much fun.  Reminiscing about childhood things that you can’t help but laugh hysterically about but also learning about each other as adults and what we have gone through and experienced personally over the last 25 years.  It’s funny how you can grow as a person, yet some things never change.  We’ve matured yet there are moments where we are still those silly teens at heart.  It has been such a breath of fresh air sharing our journeys with one another and genuinely being proud of how we’ve turned out despite the odds and challenges that each of us has faced.  It’s like the saying “people come into your life for a reason a season or a lifetime” and that is so very true. I feel like I have had people come into my life at such specific times and some have stayed, others may have drifted.  The same can be said for family as I have personally had some people come back into my life and even leave. To that I always say, “everything happens for a reason” and I firmly believe in that and always will. 

Social media can be a blessing and a curse because it can help you keep connected or even reconnect you with both family and friends even though it is just a small moment that has been captured that is being shown.  I love that I can keep updated with what is going on with family that is out of the city or even out of the country and friends that I may not see as often or that have moved away. It is so beautiful to see what they are doing even if it is just a snapshot of one special moment.  This doesn’t replace a good phone call or coffee date but just helps when life gets super busy, as it always does, and so that you can be connected even just a little.

Mark had some incredible friends from childhood too and I am so appreciative that despite him not being here they have continually kept in contact with me to just check-in and even to meet up for some good laughs and chats.  I know Mark would be so happy about that as those were always his “boys” and to see how they are watching out for his girls would mean the world to him.  We are beyond blessed, truly.

I guess my hope is that my friendship, however short or long I have been in your life has been regarded in a positive way and that I may have brought you some sort of joy or life lesson that you may have needed at that time too.  Whether I saw you today, last year or 20 years ago I will always regard you as a friend and keep you in my thoughts and heart and will forever be just a message, call or post away. For everyone that I have had the pleasure of calling a friend at any point in my life, thank you. Thank you for being a part of my journey and for being a friend.

LM