I could start by saying I love people, but I don't think I would be telling the truth if I said that. I would be telling the truth if I said, "I love my people." I am a person of comfort, which sometimes isn't always the best. I will become comfortable with people and places. So comfortable it makes it hard to leave.

I think this could be because I have lived in the same town my whole life. I have had the same people around me my whole life, but as I have gotten older I have met many people from different places. When I had to say "bye" or "see ya later" to people who helped me grow immensely I was a wreck.

Growing up is a part of life.

I know that. I wish I could take 'my' people with me through every stage of life, though. Many people who know me well are already convinced I'm going to be one of the moms who is an absolute wreck when she sends her kid(s) off to school. I love my time with people. It is a rare occasion when I get "sick" of spending time with people. I am an extrovert through and through.

I can remember certain "goodbyes" vividly. That is because they physically hurt. Saying bye to the people who I love dearly, not knowing when I'll see them next was like a punch in the chest. Walking out of a school for the last time as a student crushed me because I held that place so close to my heart. Memories began to flood my mind. I'll always have memories of the places and people I love, which is comforting to me.

I know there are people out there who do not understand why I hold people and places close to my heart. That is okay. I find safety in my people and places. I can go to my people and feel loved and I can go to my places and be reminded of great times. Such as the time I almost went into the boys' bathroom freshman year of high school. Or the random drives through town because we were bored and had nothing else to do.

There will be a day when I won't be around my people all the time. I'm already trying to prepare myself for that. So far, it is not going to well. There will be a day when I won't be able to go five or ten minutes from my house and be at places that have a special place in my heart.

There is nothing wrong with loving others.

Friendships are important. As we get older, it gets harder. We no longer see the same people every day. We no longer see all of our friends walking down the hall. Regardless, I'll always hold my people and my places close to my heart. If you're wondering, there's nothing wrong with that.