I still stay connected with "friends from high school", but to say with confidence that they are my friends? With great sadness I have to confess that no, we're not. We've all drifted apart and moved on to different life paths. Which is completely okay and wonderful in it's own right, it just sucks sometimes that I didn't take full advantage of building good, healthy, strong relationships when I was younger. I was just never socially mature enough in my youth to create those life-long friendships. I didn't understand the importance nor appreciate the affect it would have in the long run.
Now, don't misunderstand me. I'm certainly not old. Even when I was a child, I don't recall thinking 30 was old (I'm not 30 yet though! That's next year!). So I'm still in my realm of "youthfulness". Thank the Lord that I've matured and grown over the years though and have learned how to grow and embrace healthy, happy, strong friendships. I'm even happy to report, and maybe gloat a little, that I have several wonderful women that I get to call true friends. Women that I'm so thankful for and am blessed daily to have them in my life.
My friends are those kind of people that will call me on my bullcrap and, after the tongue lashing, buy me a Dr Pepper and chat it up about what we're going to do next weekend. My friends are the kind of women that aren't afraid to cry and wouldn't hesitate to hold my hand when I cry. My friends are those kinds of friends that I can talk to anything about. We can discuss our differing views on religion, debate our political views, laugh at how bizarre some fashions are, joke about 'when we were younger' and indulge in personal information about our love lives. All with complete confidence that it would never leave the confines of our little friendship bubble.
On one hand, it breaks my heart that I didn't create nor understand the importance of having that kind of connection when I was younger. I sometimes mourn for those friendships lost, but also count my blessings that at least I had them for a little while. But on the other hand, I count my blessings daily that not only do I understand it all now, but am blessed enough to have true friendship that I know will last a lifetime.
I love you all. You know who you are.
