Friends are Essential

I remember when I was in grade school and high school, I had a great group of friends.   They were the first people I shared my life with outside of my family.  It was the first time you trusted someone with your thoughts.  They were great people.  When it came time for us to all graduate and move on to our next chapter in life, I was left trying to find a whole new set of friends.

That trend of finding a whole new set of friends seemed to stay with me my whole life.  I had one group of friends through my undergraduate years and a completely different group in graduate school.  Then, moving to Nebraska in my first years of marriage, I had yet another new group of people that I called my friends.  Now, living in Minnesota for the last 11 years, I have built my latest circle of people who I call friends. 

Unfortunately for me, I was never really good at keeping in touch with the previous people I had grown to know and live a portion of my life with.  During the years, I have tried to touch base with those whom I felt were my closest friends in each circle.  But I just don't seem to do a good job of keeping that connection alive and well.  It's just not my strength.  I do think of them often, though, especially when something happens which reminds me of a particular story or situation they were a part of.  In a way, it keeps their memory alive in me.  

It was kind of a neat surprise to see how many well wishes I received this past Wednesday on Facebook.  I know Facebook keeps you up to date on all your "friends" birthdays, but I never even notice that part of the page when I am checking in (which is close to never).  I received messages from people in just about every circle of friends I could think of.  Even people I had to really think "who are they?" gave me a cheer and a well wishes.

Relationships.... They are the root of a healthy life, I think.  Without them, you don't have much.  They keep you grounded and pick you up when you fall.  They share in your joys and keep you going during times of sorrow.  They make you check in.  They challenge your thoughts.  They come and go, but somehow they never quite forget you.

And I never quite forget about them.  I always remember the good times we had.  The talks, the cries, the deep debates, the laughs, the experiences with a lesson to learn...

And I learned completely different lessons from each circle.  Lessons were a lot simpler in my younger years then they are now.  I remember learning that friends came and went depending on how cool your toys were or how long you could stay out at night.  Now, friends come and go depending on where the job takes them or how old your kids are compared them theirs. 

I will always cherish the experiences. 


And knowing my history, there will be more experiences and more friends to come. 

Until then,
Gina

The Four Agreements

Check the link on the right, under Home to read about Don Miguel Ruiz's Four Agreements

What Happens Next?

Today I am 40 years and 1 day old....

I have lived a great life, thus far....

I have learned many things.......

and I am excited to learn many more.

I have always had an interest in writing and sharing my thoughts about life and my experiences in it, so I have decided to start this blog. It's not that I think I know so much and feel I should change the world. I just love learning about life and how those experiences fit into this world and always want to share those experiences with other people. As a woman, a teacher, a wife, and a parent, I have had some really great experiences, thus far. My wish is to share them with you. Hopefully, some of the things I say strike a chord or make you think about your own life in a different way. Please feel free to let me know if that happens and how.  For now, enjoy!

Until then, 
Gina