Alyice on May 11th, 2009

Thanks For The Memories

Throughout my life I’ve had a lot of acquaintances and very few “friends” though I’ve called most of my acquaintances friends. Acquaintances, to me, are people you get together with every once in awhile to hang out with and have a good time but with whom you don’t build deep bonds. Friends, however, are like “chosen family”.

They are people who see both the good and the bad, the pretty and the ugly, the mundane and the exciting, and like you anyway. They are people you can confide in. They are people you can rely on for emotional support, for physical labor, and yes, an occasional a buck or two. They are people you can laugh with, cry with, and get angry with. They are people you can count on to be honest with you when nobody else will. They are people who aren’t afraid to push you to new heights and ask the same in return.

They grow with you and choose not to keep score cards—though at times human nature prevails. And though they may be quick to judge at times and even find themselves a bit jealous of certain aspects of your life, they never, ever allow their flaws—or yours—to ruin the relationship you have spent years building. And yet, both types of relationships bring so much joy to our lives that it’s often hard to separate the two.

I was reminded of the importance of both these relationships this past week as I partook in a dear friend’s wedding. My family and I traveled eight hours to beautiful Merrill, Wisconsin—a town we spent four years of our lives exploring as my husband earned his electro-mechanical degree. We try to get there every other year, but had to forgo one year due to my mother’s death and last year due to the outrageous gas prices and economic woes. So going back this year was a real eye opener as to the blessings one receives from building both types of relationships.

During our visit, we ran into shop owners who treat their regulars like friends and discovered they not only remembered us, but held a special place in their hearts for us. We ran into old friends who treated us like we never left. And my son and husband ran into old buddies they’d meet at the park to play basketball with—who insisted they come out every night, of our visit, so they could catch up. Of course, there wasn’t much intimate talk going on—just a lot of idle chit chat filled with loads of laughter and a few very challenging games of b-ball!

All in all, it felt like we had come home. And I suppose that’s what we miss most about living in Merrill, Wisconsin. Even though we knew that we couldn’t let our hearts get too attached because we’d have to move out of the area for my husband to get a job, the area had a way of attaching itself to our hearts—the people, the community, the beauty of the area, and yes, the friendships.

So today, I’d like to encourage you to give thanks to the people in your life who make where you live feel like home: the postal workers, the bank attendants, the waitresses at your favorite restaurant, the shop keepers, members of a local club or sporting event, your neighbors, and yes, your friends. You’ll be surprised at how a simple kind word about how they make a difference in your life can lift their spirits and bring hope to the world.

Give thanks…

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Comments (2)

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Sylvia Bortman says:
I agree, it is so very important to let others know how much they mean to us, it is not only good for them, but for us as well! The universal law of reciprocation has a wonderful boomerang effect. Every time that I do something nice for someone or say something nice to someone, I always get so much more out of it then I have given.

Thanks again for another great blog!

Sylvia
Posted at 12:16 am May 14th, 2009
Alyice says:
Thanks Sylvia!
Posted at 9:15 am May 14th, 2009

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