Friendship Power

If you make and keep friends easily, you are a lucky person. Adults might be pushed together because of work or their kids’ common activities, not because of a desire to hang out. Sometimes these acquaintances work out, and sometimes not. Maybe friendship comes faster when we’re in diapers, or even in kindergarten and learning the basics of everything. It can become more complicated over time. I heard this on a podcast but it’s stuck with me… that we might collect friends like coins or marbles as teens and twenty-somethings, and then cling to a few closer, treasured ones as time moves on and life happens. And, we also meet new marbles at different stages. Some roll away, and some don’t. I liked the metaphor.

There is sheer power for people in true friendship. It is not always apparent, until it is, and then you’re like, whoa, that’s my people.

When two of my friends tragically drowned, our friend group came together in incredibly memorable moments. When my sister was diagnosed with brain cancer, (she is in remission and doing amazing btw), my friends showed UP. They picked up the phone, called me back, brought me wine, hugged me hard, let me cry, fed me, and didn’t try to fix it.

My girlfriend T looked at me one day and said, “I just feel terrible you and your family are dealing with this; it’s just not fair”…. and I couldn’t agree more… but what IS fair?

Life is not fair. The innocent are punished, people die too young, wars level cities… Life’s not fair. But, friends can help soften the blow, hold your hand, maybe try and make sense of it (or not), and we can all rest better knowing that we’re in it together. Life happens. Friends (and yoga) can help!

photo shot at Aro Ha