Friendship

My husband, Martin, and I are fortunate to have many dear friends. We’ve met lots of great people through the various companies we’ve worked for, neighborhoods we’ve lived in and schools we’ve attended. One group of friends in particular are especially dear to us. We’ve met them through Martin’s former employer and even though he’s long been gone from that company (thank god!!!), we see these friends on a regular basis.

One of the things we do together is rotate hosting dinner parties. Last night, we hosted a southwestern themed seafood bbq. I love to cook and our friends are adventurous eaters so I really enjoy trying out new recipes. Cooking and recipe testing is a fabulous way for me to express my creativity. When we get together, we laugh, eat, share, laugh some more and of course catch up in each other’s lives. Afterwards I feel fulfilled and joyful. This is how I feel every time we get together.

Last night’s experience brings me to a movie we recently watched on DVD called Into the Wild. Into the Wild (2007) It’s a beautiful story of a young man who discovers the importance of sharing life’s experience with others after he realizes he is dying. And he leaves the planet grateful for making this discovery. It was profound.

To me, life is about expressing my creativity and sharing my experiences with others. By sharing I’m not talking about competing with others, trying to feel important, making myself look smart, etc. It’s about just being me and being around people who just accept me as I am….warts and all! When I’m with friends who accept me as I am, I feel connected and loved. And these feelings inspire me to accept others as they are so they feel connected and loved. It’s a beautiful thing…pass it on!