It got me to thinking about the journey of this very friendship. A year ago, we barely knew each other. Over the last 12 months, we've gone to lunch once or twice, caught up over coffee quite a few times, brunched on our birthday (we're both April 18th-ers), volunteered together, and she was the 1st to offer to host a Poetic Soul Gifts home party - which turned out to be a total success! She's become one of the biggest cheerleaders for my company - not only by making purchases herself, and hosting a party for her friends to place orders as well, but by encouraging me in my efforts & praising my accomplishments!
This morning I thought about the progression of my contributions to our coffee house conversations throughout this year:
*In January, we were optimistically brainstorming ways to work together in the music business.
*In March, I lost my music industry gig & went into depression & shock.
*In April, over hot cocoa with my birthday buddy, I shed a few tears as my life continued to fall apart around me.
*By July, I was making a part-time job out of going on interviews, though still unemployed.
*By the time she hosted the open house in October, I was working 2 other part-time jobs & hopeful for more Poetic Soul work.
*And on this chilly November morning, as we caught up over coffee once again, I couldn't stop smiling! I finally felt like I had exciting things to talk about. I've still got those other 2 part-time jobs, and Poetic Soul is hitting its stride for the holiday season. I had new products to show her, a catalog to share, and a gift basket to donate to a charity she's involved with. I've been busy, busy, busy - designing, crafting, & creating. Keeping busy by creating is where I prefer to live - that's my happy place. Life is looking up!
As a positive person by nature, I never like to be the Debbie Downer in someone's life. I'm certain that I have been that to several people for long stretches of time this year, as I struggled with many changes taking over my world. (To all of you to whom that applies, I apologize and thank you for bearing with me.) I am so grateful to be on my way out of that darkness and back into the light of a purposeful life. Debbie Downer be damned - I'd much rather be Peggy Positive!
There is a quote that I love which reads:
"You are my friend when you can guard my failure,
challenge my thought, and celebrate my success."
-Unknown
Throughout 2012, I've been blessed with several true friends according to this definition, and I am humbled by the love that I receive from them. In a year chock full of failures, I have felt guarded and protected by my friends. In a year when I had plenty to think about, I have been challenged by fresh perspectives from friends. And in a year where success has been hard to come by, I have always had someone alongside of me to celebrate even the tiniest of victories.
It's such a delight to engage in a friendship where you can stumble together through the rotten moments of life, and make it through to dance on the other side. Additionally, I appreciate the way that, in retrospect, occasional coffee dates serve as mile markers on the highway of life's progress. This year has been quite a trip - in every sense of the word - but as I look back, it's so gratifying to see how far I've come. There is an open road stretched out before me - "Two Lanes of Freedom," one might say - and I've still got a ways to go. But with a host of fabulous friends in tow, why should I be anything but excited about the journey yet to come?
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