February 18, 2009

Friends

It has been a long time since I have posted. My family went through alot last year and I needed to take a break to focus on us. But over that time I realized alot about life and would like to share one of those realizations with you now.
For a long time I wanted to do life by myself. I figured I could take care of everything I needed, I could survive alone. I didn't need anyone. Well, needless to say, that did not work well. And what I discovered even more this past year is that we all need people around us to help support us and to help support them at different points in our lives.
I have been blessed with 4 wonderful friends who came into my life a little over a year ago. Actually, they are more like sisters than friends, even though there is no blood relation between us. And what I have learned is that life is so much more fulfilling and eventful when you have people to share it with. And not just your family.
Girls, this is for you. We need girlfriends in our lives. More than we could ever realize. We need "sisters" to laugh with, cry with, and just be completely ridiculous with! There is an intimacy that can only be found in the friendship of women. A knowledge that there is someone there for you at all hours- just a phone call away. That is what I have found and encourage all of you to find as well.
I don't think it matters how many or how few. But life seems a little lighter, no matter what you are carrying, when you know you have a "sister" beside you holding your hand. I think life with an eating disorder can be a lonely one. And sometimes starting down the road to recovery can be scary when you look around and you're not quite sure who will walk with you the whole way.
So here's what I'm proposing. Find a girlfriend, a "sister", a beautiful soul of a woman who you can embrace and allow to embrace you. Sure, you might not be best friends after one day, but keep nurturing that relationship. Find someone you look up to, someone who inspires you to be a better you. Find someone who will push you on, keep you accountable, someone you feel comfortable sharing yourself with. And what you might find is that you can be that person for her as well. And it is in that give and take, that exchange of support and love, that you find life a little brighter, no matter how many storms come your way.