A Note From Paris

A feeling of peace and joy washed over me as I looked down at my phone. The bing indicated a new message and I smiled as I read the name. You forget sometimes that even if you haven’t seen someone in a couple of years and you haven’t heard their voice in almost as long…they are still there. They are still thinking of you as often as you are thinking of them. Still smiling a goofy smile at the sight of your name popping up on their phone. These are the friends that truly love you and accept you no matter what and you feel the same about them. Even when you make mistakes over and over and over, they still answer the phone with a smile when you call. The conversations still flow like time has not passed. The love remains true and strong and you can feel it in your soul that this was just meant to be. This kind of friendship is hard to find but I feel like it’s the easiest to maintain.

I would love to find out what my connection was to my few very close friends in past lives. I wonder how long we have been floating around this universe connected by invisible ties that have never broken? Were we always friends? Maybe siblings? Maybe lovers?

When I started having zoom coffees with my girlfriends, it changed my outlook on a few things. I also realized that no matter what, I have people in my life that are just as crazy and dorky as I am. I haven’t been able to laugh much (truly laugh, you know those good laughs where your stomach starts to hurt and face feels like it’s going to break) in many years. Something I wasn’t really aware of. These friends are the ones that keep me grounded, keep my head on straight, keep me from losing my crackers and don’t judge me for wanting to help people who may not always appreciate or return the love that I show them. I must be crazy to think someone would jump in a car and drive 6-7 hours to come to my aid without asking questions. Why so I do that for people who wouldn’t do that in return?

I do it for them because I would not be where I am today if I didn’t have the help I had when I was growing up. Sometimes we need someone to have that strong of faith in us and believe so hard that we deserve better that they are willing to drop everything and race to our sides. Sometimes that’s exactly what we need to wake up and make the changes we need to in order to become the best version of ourselves.

When I can’t physically be there for a friend, we have the phone. Last week I spent 5 hours on a call (and still managed to do my life at the same time) because my friend needed it. She didn’t have to tell me, I just knew. Another night I spent almost 3 hours on the phone with someone else who needed a friend and a familiar voice. She crawled into bed and I talked with her until I heard her soft snoring on the other end. I hung up and texted her bright and early to make sure she got up in time for work. I love these people more than I could ever express.

When I see their names on my phone I feel that sense of calm that I can best describe as “home”. They are my HOME wherever they may be.

Have a happy Monday everyone and stay healthy ❤

-Ang