Every relationship in your life has a story.
I used to think Valentine’s Day was for romantic dinners and gazing into the eyes of the one you love, just like in the movies. Society has a way of painting a picture of the way it should be, red roses and fancy restaurants with chocolate hearts and flowers. For many who are fighting a year long pandemic (whether on the front lines or just mentally) life has been anything but that lately.
Valentine’s Day should be about celebrating the relationships in your life, and taking the time to not only reflect on them, but to celebrate each and every one. Relationships can be funny. They can ebb and flow, they can be battered and bruised, and if you’re willing to work at it, they have a way of giving back to you in the most rewarding way.
“A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.”
– Unknown
I’ve had the same two best friends since I was little (elementary and middle school respectively). I don’t really know the specifics of our original friendships, but I do know that they have changed for the better over the past 20+ years of my life. Our lives have taken us in different directions, whether it be professionally, personally, or geographically, yet the onset of technology has allowed us to stay in touch despite the distance or time zones between us. There’s something to be said for “old school” friends who have known you for your entire life. They have both witnessed changes to my mental health, for both the good and the bad.
They have watched me be successful and also fail when it comes to life and its challenges. We’ve celebrated these successes and grieved collectively, without judgement, when each of us needed it most. One of my favorite parts about having the kind of friendship that I am blessed with is that the longevity of it allows for flexibility. I can have a bad day, bad month, or quite frankly, a bad year, and know that they will be there. One of them may need me a year from now, or five years from now. We do our best to stay a float when the other one needs it most.
Every single relationship in your life has a very different story. There are lovers, co-workers, old college friends, former friends, siblings, parents, neighbors, and even people who come into your life for a very brief span of time.
During the month of February, I’ll continue to look at the relationships in my life and how they have impacted me today.
