Some Thoughts On Friendship

I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light.

Helen Keller

Hey, Lovelies!

I’ve had a hard week in lots of ways. I’m supporting lots of people in my community right now who are going through major life difficulties. I love my work, but it’s exhausting at times. And stressful. I’ve had a mountain of writing and course creation work to do. I’ve been feeling unwell myself after last week’s flu vaccination, I’m having tests and waiting on medical results for a raft of newly annoying symptoms and some old ones, I’ve had pesky pain disturbing my sleep, and I’ve had tech issues.

But…

The one thing that has really made this a stand-out week is friendship. It’s been a beautiful week of connection, although none of that was memorable. Instead, it was the very ordinariness of it that made it so heart-warming.

I have a friend who sends me pictures of flowers and plants in her garden from time to time. Just that. A simple picture of snowdrops or an interesting leaf, something cute, or perhaps an illustration out of a children’s book. They are so random, and they always cheer me up. This friend also doesn’t expect me to send a massive reply. It’s just a way to connect and let each other know we are cared for.

Another friend sends me cheer-squad type encouragement messages when she knows I am doing it tough. Lots of memes. In fact sometimes our entire exchange is memes. It gives me somewhere to laugh and cry.

Our new next-door neighbour dropped in for a chat. Oh thank the Universe that we have landed here in our treehouse with the most brilliant neighbours!

A girlfriend sent me a message to organise an in-person catch up as soon as I have a spare window of time. She lives close by and is thinking Sunday lunch.

A dear friend picked me a bag of rosellas from his garden, and sent them home to me via Ben.

The children of another friend sent Ben and I cards and letters in the mail.

I chatted with my sister on the phone. Every day.

I said hello to the man who owns our new favourite Japanese café. We are getting to know each other, and a relationship is developing.

A friend going through a hard time wrote a post which I commented upon, and we had a short but very meaningful exchange of great honesty and vulnerability through post comments early one morning.

The baristas at our local coffee haunt stopped by our table earlier in the week (before we went to ground with a local COVID scare) to shoot the breeze. More friendships forming.

There’s this lovely sense of community in my life, although not everyone lives local to me. Some of my friends are half a world away. Some I have never met in person. Some I see rarely face-to-face. But technology means we can be by each other’s sides when we need to be.

All of these small interactions help me to feel loved, supported and connected. It’s these small acts that matter. Please don’t ever think that they don’t!

This weekend I’m wishing you some magical and very ordinary everyday connections of your own. I’m glad you’re part of my life!

Sending love, meaningful and funny memes, and big hugs, Nicole xx