Happy Friday good buddy!
I've already spent more than enough time in my head trying to figure out how to rock this shit so I'm gonna just roll with it.
On many fronts, years 2019 through 2020 was a complete kick in the pants for my little family... Similar to a rough moment in your underwear... you're better off tossing them rather than to shamefully wash'm! Just before they leave your filthy hands, you're like yup! I'm gonna try and forget this moment.. but fat chance if I ever will!
Like that.
I know that my little family and I aren't the only ones who thought that the dance of 2020 was shit, or felt the shit... (bad underwear)...
Aside from being bothered by this asshole hahaha, in my quiet time this morning, I tripped over a quote that sent me down a rabbit hole of thought.
"there is no happiness like that of being loved by your fellow creatures, and feeling that your presence is an addition to their comfort" - Charlotte Bronte
I see my closest friends in that same light.
I'm not sure if it's the recent significant stresses of life that are (hopefully) in the past floating in my head or what. But in a calm state as I watch the dirt in life settle now, I can see the silhouettes of who has been there the entire time.
As the morning fog dissipates from my head the silhouettes lost in life's turmoil become clearer as I wander deeper down this rabbit hole.
"Friendships multiply the joys and divide the griefs" - Henry George Bohn
When I talk about friends, friendship, I'm not only talking about just those that know us outside of work, no... I'm equally including the genuine relationships we've developed over the years with our clients - who now are also incredible friends.
One of the joys of being in Real Estate and Handyman is that we have a unique opportunity to be welcomed into people's lives and their homes. When our life would go sideways, I had to share with them what was happening - just as they did me as well... and from that, we became even tighter.
The random unprovoked check ins, the group texts with neighbors about life - sometimes weird shit hahah!, the sharing of effort to pick up your kids from practice, being asked to check in on a home to make sure someone was ok, someone coming to your home at 11pm to console you, the unprovoked phone calls wanting to see if there's anything they can do - or to share in their own grief, random askings if they can get something while at the store, being able to ask friends to borrow a shot or three of alcohol cause you're out - the hell with sugar!
the willingness to be called on should your life depend on them!
or as silly as it is, use a friend's driveway to park an extra car... the willingness to take your boys so you can chill and recover, a surprise dinner at your doorstep, welcoming you into their home so they could cook and serve you a homemade dinner, an eight hour convo just chilling on your couch...
I could go on and on...
Life takes time to recover from...
While doing the best I can, I'm often lost in thought, reflecting on particles of dusted memories from these past two years that land in their random places. In doing so I'm grossly overwhelmed with the feeling of how lonely I can find myself.
At times I might as well be on a mountain side fighting the elements of a vulnerable heart, strong feelings of knowing what I'm doing is right, but I have worn out hands and loose footing..
I know that the summit is ahead, somewhere above the clouds, these circumstances are only for now, only for today... So I press on because it's for my little family, my drive to serve them, to serve others, and serve myself.. that keeps my head up dealing with the lonely kind of shit...
"and I think they knew. Not anything specific really. They just knew. And that's all you can ever ask from a friend" - Stephen Chbosky
As I deal with the loneliness of life, like a message sent to the heavens, a rope will drop from clouds above giving me what I needed at that moment... I can't see from where, but I can hear that it's a friend.. they're checking in, letting me know they're there.. "use this rope if it helps you"..
It has been our friends that have been there to bring comfort to our tattered hearts over these years. To them I am incredibly grateful for..
As I come to a close on my rabbit hole, I just want to say thank you.
Deeply from the bottom of my heart, thank you friend.
One does not have to share biology with another to be considered family. Friends are the family we choose.
If this resonated with you, please share it with a good friend :)
Chas and I are here if you need anything :)
Have a grateful weekend!