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Cherish Your Friendships

Lauren Grace Living

Archive

Cherish Your Friendships

4 years ago today I received a phone call saying that my best friend from back home had been killed in a car accident. Christin, who was only 27, was a popular school teacher and beloved friend of many.

At that time in my life I had always believed that everything happens for a reason, but this loss left me seriously questioning that theory. Christin was creating a beautiful life for herself, everyone loved her, and she was changing the lives of so many students in her community. After the initial grief and denial subsided I was trying to wrap my head around why this would happen to her. Why was she taken so soon?

I never did figure out the why, and I probably never will. But over time I did learn how to find acceptance and peace with her passing. And I recognized the lesson that so many people who have lost someone tragically experience. The fact that life is short and unpredictable, and you need to live it to the fullest with the people you love.

Originally I was going to write about how Christin’s passing had motivated me to pursue my dream, to stop sweating the small stuff, and to have more fun. All of this is true. I could tell you that life is too short to stay in a job where you are miserable. To stress out over situations you can’t control. And to to make your life be all about work and no play. Now while these are all valid lessons I learned from her passing, the thought that I most want to convey to you today is to cherish your friendships.

Christin and I met in kindergarden, so we literally grew up together. And even when I moved to Florida we still remained very close and saw each other on every trip back home. In fact her last Christmas was spent in Florida with me and my family, a memory that I am so very grateful to have. There are no words I could write to describe how much her friendship meant to me. All I can say is that I am so very blessed to have had her in my life.

On the memorial of her passing I am reminded of all the amazing friendships I’ve had and have throughout my life. Some I’ve known since childhood, and some that I’ve just made in the past few months. Just writing this makes me feel overwhelmed with gratitude for all the people in my life. I am ridiculously blessed in the friendship department. And all I want to do today is hug each every one of them. Now since many of them don’t live near by a virtual hug and I love you will have to do for now.

So today I’m really not concerned about my to-do list, how much money is in the bank, or how many “likes” this blog post will get on Facebook. Cause all that stuff really doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. All I want to do today is nourish and celebrate my friendships, and I ask you to do the same.

My hope is that by reading this you’ve already started to think of all the amazing friendships in your own life. And if you haven’t yet take some time today to stop with your busy work and to really think about your friends, past and present. What were some of your favorite memories together? What do you love about them? And then reach out to your friends. Make plans to get together this week. If you live far apart send them a card (not an e-card, like a real card that you put a stamp on and put in the mailbox). Or call them just to say I love you. Take time for those simple gestures, because they can mean so much.

Before Christin’s passing I had picked up a card to send to her. I had wrote a nice little note in it for no particular reason, just a hi how are you, thinking of you card. That card sat on my table filled out for a month because I was too “busy” to pick up a stamp and address it. Christin died before I ever got to send that card.

Don’t be too busy to stay in touch. Pick up the phone, send the card, get on the plane, and make the lunch date. We often prioritize work over relationships in todays society. Now I know we all have our purpose and mission that we are pursuing, and I’m not suggesting that your work shouldn’t be a priority in your life, but it shouldn’t be everything. Start cherishing your friendships more, nourish them more, and prioritize them more.

So to all my friends, I love you so very much and am sending you a big virtual hug! And to Christin, thank you for being in my life, for all the wonderful memories, and for always being there for me. Love you always.