Friends – How Many of Us Have Them

Being a wife to Hubbin and a mommy to Pumpkin and Pops, I often find myself in what I call “The Work Zone.” (Cue “The Twilight Zone” music and nauseating graphics). It’s a deep, seemingly inescapable hole of never ending laundry to wash, dishes to clean, toys to put away, boo-boos to kiss, rooms to tidy up, lunches to fix, & dinners to cook. Many times, I find myself sitting down at the end of the day, wondering where the time went. What did I do for myself today? Who have I talked to besides my Terrific Trio?

Now, don’t get me wrong. I love my little family. They’re awesome, smart, and so stinking cute!! But as cute as they are, Pumpkin and Pops are really only interested in all things Disney & Batman, respectively. They aren’t really interested in Mommy trying to decide what style and color she wants her hair for her next salon appointment. Hubbin is definitely an upgrade in actual conversation, but the only highlighter he knows about is used on paper. So what’s a mom to do?

While I love my family, both immediate and extended, I slowly realized that I needed a non-familial outlet. I needed to talk to people who understood me as Shannin. I needed to connect with other women, who had responsibilities & careers, but could also just have a goofy, good time.

Enter my tribe!!! Imagine a crazy combination of Girlfriends, Sex and the City, and Golden Girls – that’s us. What makes my tribe so truly special? Literally EVERYTHING!!! We are so different, so we each bring something unique to the friendship. We each possess something that the other need. That’s what I love about us. We all have different personalities, but, somehow, it all seems to work.

We laugh together, we pray together. We have disagreements and get upset with each other. The beauty of this friendship, though, is that we can’t stay mad at each other. We may go to our proverbial corners, but before you can blink, we’re right back to giggling. We encourage each other. We uplift each other, literally holding each other up sometimes.

I recently told them how much they mean to me. God, in His infinite wisdom, placed them in my life just when I needed them the most. Funny thing is, I didn’t even know I needed them. They were just what the Doctor ordered. I was someone who didn’t have many friends growing up. I didn’t run with the popular crowd. I was the awkward and misunderstood one. That’s why my tribe means so much to me. The unadulterated, no holds barred love that we have for each other means the world. We require nothing of each other, but love. If one of us is in a rough or dark place and can’t give that love, the rest of us are there to help bear the load. This relationship takes nothing away from our significant others or family; rather, it further fortifies us to be better in our other relationships.

That’s what friends are for. That’s why we do what we do. Not for that we can GET FROM each other. We do it for what we can GIVE TO each other.

To my tribe, if you’re reading this (and y’all better be), know that I love you all. No matter where life takes us, I know that you will always be a part of my life, my story, & my journey. I love you all and I love us! #GangGang

To anyone reading this and you feel alone, even with people around; if you feel like you’ve lost yourself in pursuit of making a life with the one you love; if you just need someone to listen, don’t fret. God sees and He knows your heart’s desire. When it is time, He will drop the right people in your life, when you need them most. Let Him prepare yourself tribe for you and prepare you for your tribe. I promise it always works out in the end.

It’s not very often we find and gain true friends in life. When we do, it’s important to hold to them. Always remember to cherish the Gift of True Friendship.

#EnjoyTheJourney