I’ve never been one to really enjoy going out unless it involved food and a no bra kind of night. Back when I was in high school and even into my early college years I still can count on two hands a night really filled with adventure. Those years are filled with memories both good and bad that I will never forget. I had years filled with shenanigans and life lessons and I think there came a time in my life where those memories were filled with people who are no longer in my life. The memories that I have we're with people who only cared about themselves and I think that after a couple of instances where you weren’t treated well by someone who you thought was a real friend you start to question who your true friends are.

I am now at a place in my life where I can count on one hand who my real friends are. I have many friends and I think that is something that I love because I have kept so many connections throughout the years, but I do have my few friends that I know no matter the time of the day I can count on them. I think there comes a point in everyone’s life that you realize the type of people you want to surround yourself with. There comes a time where the party scene and those types of people are not who you want to share your life with. I know that may seem harsh, but let me explain it this way. When I have conversations with people I strive to have a genuine conversation with each person that I talk to. I love to see where each conversation will go because each person that we speak with has a different mind and a different way to look at life. However, I know I can’t be mad at those who don’t look at life the same way I do. I know that most will brush off conversations with people and will only focus on a piece of the moment when I look at the entire picture. Those people want to speak to as many people as they can because they want to feel as though they do have “friends”.

I think that we want all of these people surrounding us in our life because we are sometimes afraid to be alone so we surround ourselves with those who are A. either just like us or B. someone that we wish we were. Friendships are one of the most important relationships we will ever create on this earth. They require love, attention, empathy, loyalty, and respect. One key important aspect that is necessary for any friendship is patience. We as their friends need to conjure up the strength to have the patience for someone’s walk through life. However, we need those types of people in our life as well instead of having a city full of people who truly do not have our best interests at heart. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have the people who believe in me and who will always strive to be a better friend to me then those who would not support me when the going gets tough. Those are the type of people that are going to be standing next to me on my wedding day and the ones that will continue to be there for me for the rest of my life.

Thank you to those few friends that push me to want to be a better person, who believe in me, who give me strength and who love me unconditionally. I hope I do the same for you.