I have never told anyone this before but I have always measured my friendships by deciding who the groomsmen in my wedding would be. "Okay... if she had Five bridesmaids I would choose these Five guys. Okay… only three?... then these three guys". I have come to the conclusion that if I had to, I couldn't choose just Three, or Five, or even Fifteen. I have so many powerful relationships with so many larger than life dudes I just couldn't narrow it down to much less than 20. It wasn't always this way. Early on some of my best friends went even, good friends.
One weekend during summer vacation in high school I was away at camp and the rest of my family was away on their own vacation. My friends knew the house was empty and that I would be returning home late on a Sunday night to a dark house. I was constantly on the wrong end of my “friends” jokes. When I returned home on that beautiful late summer evening to a dimly light house I was greeted by a huge duke on my front porch that I did not see in the darkness and tracked across my mom’s new white carpet. The good thing is that I thought it was dog poop so the clean up wasn't all that bad, that was until I was delivered the news a few days later it was human. That is how crappy some of my friendships were, needless to say we haven’t stayed in touch. Given the opportunity I would rebuild those freindships
It took me sometime to figure out who I was: by doing so it allowed me to identify the people I wanted to channel my energy into as friends. I developed friendships in college that have evolved onto lifelong bonds that are stronger than Valyrian Steel. Some I talk to daily and some less frequent but are still equally as important to me. I have found friendships in some of the most awkward places but still equally important. I spent two years dedicated to my career living in a small town in Texas that took me away from all of my friends. Spending Fridays eating pizza alone and seeing my lonely reflection in the restaurant window made me realize that this was no way to spend my twenty's and was one of the first times I realized I needed to be surrounded by positive friendships. I don’t know what it is about this primal want to be part of a tribe but I understand how necessary they are. This was one of the deciding factors that brought me to California. California has been an opportunity to surround myself with world class people. I would have never have been able to imagine the depth and width of this amazing network that I am currently immersed in.
The friendships I have are my most valued possession. I need them; it's your friendship that allows me to learn to grow and gives me to opportunity to share different perspectives. The past weekend i shared a few nights under the stars with friends (pictured above) from all over the globe, we have all come from different places in life but I love them all. Life is less when I am not surrounded by people; the individuals I call friends are what drive me to try harder and become better. In turn I am able to give back through the energy and knowledge I gain. The better I become the better we can all become. It is imperative that we are all intentional in our relationships and raise each other up to a higher place. To me helping everyone learn is what this whole life is all about.
I need you and appreciate you. All my love.