My mom told me a few months ago that one of the most important things I'll ever find in life are friends. At that time, I kind of glanced and nodded, not really taking the time to think about what she had said.
Now, looking back, I realized that she was right; friends are one of life's most important treasures one will ever find. Especially for one good friend of mine who is going through a relationship breakup right now.
On Saturday, my girlfriends and I went on a picnic. It's been a long time since we have spent any time together outside of work, so it was much needed. I realized while I was sitting there on our striped blanket, basket full of homemade food and a glass of red wine in my hand; that life can sometimes get in the way of the things that really mean the most. It seems crazy schedules, same old routines, school, work, and trying to just get by in this world begins to embrace our entire lives until that's all we are.
In many ways I feel we all realized that this weekend, not because I said anything to them, but because of the way they smiled and nodded as we toasted to another chapter of our lives.
I believe though, in the end it meant the most to our girlfriend who is going through the breakup, from a relationship of 2 years. We talk about him, and the life she thought she was going to have when they moved here together to live in a small quant house on the busy streets of Denver. I felt like it was just us girls in that moment of time on Saturday, and that no one else was around. It was as if we were all that mattered in that cozy little park by the lake, as a breeze blew through the big old evergreen we sat under - our eyes focused on her every word as she talked about him, looking down occasionally as though to reflect on her life now that she is single.
We gave what advise we could, and a few jokes here and there to make her laugh, but what really mattered to her was that we were all together on a sunny Saturday afternoon in a park, under an evergreen tree toasting to life's journeys and the finding of that one true love.
I don't think we offered much help, but that wasn't important. We were there for each other again; when we step, we all step together; our motto we chanted as we folded up the blanket and packed away the rest of the uneaten food. As we were getting ready to leave to go our separate ways again, our friend turned to us and said "well off I go I guess, out to find myself again on my own without him," we paused for a split second and looking up at her, tears in her eyes, we nodded and said to her, "yes my dear, off you go."