Beautiful Friendships
Our capacity for joy is not determined by others but it is certainly nurtured and encouraged. I have recently been blessed to spend the day with a very dear friend whom I hadn’t seen in a very long time.
That’s the magical thing about friendship. There’s this amazing gift of holding space for someone you care about in a gentle kindness that surpasses physical distance.
This remarkable lady who I’ve known for several decades is a walking blueprint for what I affectionately call practical positivity. She has a mischievous and at times, wicked sense of humour, a deep commitment and love for family and the most irresistible and engaging laugh you’ll find anywhere.
My friend is definitely one of those true gems in life who simply make it a better place to be.
Admiring her happy disposition, it’s easy to forget that she is struggling with health concerns she’s finding increasingly frustrating. She has had to face the early losses of independence and this is likely to continue into the future.
Fortunately, she is blessed with wonderful family, great neighbours and people like me who show up in a whirlwind of ‘lets go do this!’ and off we charge for a fun-filled day of laughter, highway navigation and endearing conversation all wrapped into one!
Amongst the myriad of conversation was a heartfelt discussion about the benefits of getting out and doing different things, seeing different people and engaging in different dialogue. Life becomes rather stagnant if we’re simply doing the same thing all the time.
I’m learning how important this is, especially as we age. I recently gave my Mum a copy of Elizabeth Gilbert’s, “Big Magic” and she devoured it in a week! When Mum and I spend time together, we’re really mindful to have a balance between working and venturing out to explore. We also make a habit of having thought-provoking and enriching conversation.
This is certainly what my friend and I shared the other day. We laughed wholeheartedly, recalling fond memories of the mishaps and mayhem life has thrown our way and the courage that’s needed to move forward through times of uncertainty.
There are no misgivings or sugar-coating her condition and her resilience and matter-of-fact approach are keeping her spirits high. She has that whimsical sense of playful joy with a down to earth sense of practicality thrown in. Acceptance resides with room for hope and I admire this greatly.
Day to day responsibilities have a way of weighing us down, especially when we’re taking on so much of what’s going on around us. Being with one of my dearest friends has left me with a feeling of immense gratitude for our ability to shine through sadness, to keep going through the chaos, to never lose sight of who we are and to cherish our capacity for joy.
As Glennon Doyle says, “We can do hard things”. It isn’t about stuffing away our emotions or pretending difficult times don’t exist . . . because they do. My friend is facing her challenges with a grace and dignity that only inner strength can bring.
I am humbled by her bravery and blessed to share our friendship.
29 November 2024, Andrea Weber, Expansive Happiness®
Image by SI Janko Ferlic, Unsplash. Thank you for sharing your creativity.