This past weekend was fun. Ryan and I had a bunch of our friends over to hang out… kind of a post- St. Patrick’s Day party. As I was sitting there with friends, sharing food and conversation, I started thinking about how incredibly blessed I am.

I haven’t always had the best of luck in choosing friends. In fact, last year I got burned by two people I considered to be my best friends. There’s only two ways to react to that. You either question yourself, what you did to cause this, why they did what they did, what’s wrong with you…. Or you can choose to move on. To acknowledge that you did the best you could and there was nothing you could do about it, and that true friendship isn’t a one way street.

Lately I’ve chosen to follow the latter option. I still have a tendency to dwell and over-analyze, but I’ve moved on to more of a concept of “Like me or Leave me”. I am who I am. I believe what I believe. I do what I think is right and if I’m not good enough for you – I’m sorry, but I’m okay with that.

So as I was sitting at the kitchen table, it occurred to me how many wonderful friends I have now and how much I’ve grown. Before I only had a few friends and they lived rather far away. I didn’t get to see them often and the relationship was very lop-sided. But I tolerated the lack of equality in the relationship because I didn’t feel like I had any other option (and quite honestly I probably wasn’t valuing myself as much as I should have). I realize now, of course, that there were (and I do have) options. There is no sense in staying in a relationship that is hurtful and exhausting (emotionally and financially).

I feel like now that I’ve started appreciating myself a little more (thanks to some wonderful people), I have done a much better job of surrounding myself with people who love and value me for who I am. People I would do just about anything for and I know would do just about anything for me.

It’s also a wonderful feeling to know that there are people out there who see the world similarly to me. Who appreciate, love and value art (in a variety of forms) and who are interested in new ideas and concepts. Who believe in God and that everyone has a purpose for their life. Who are interested in (helping) others and aren’t only interested in a friendship that they can benefit from in some way.

So this Monday I’m feeling Thankful! Thankful for friendship and growth and the possibilities that lay before me.

Happy Monday!

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