Sometimes when people talk about their best friends and their shared history, I wish I could have that same experience. Having that one person who has been in my life since we were in school. Sharing secrets of our crushes, first kisses, first everythings. I don’t have that. I had close friends, even best friends during the years of school, but nothing lasting the test of time. I am close to my big sister now. It wasn’t always like that but now I am so forever grateful for having that wonderful soul and her family in my life. I am close to my mum, especially since having my children. It is only through the children though, that we have become closer. Again I am just so grateful for that. Not even my husband falls into that role of ‘best friend’. Yes he is the one person who has seen me in my rawest state. He is the one who despite everything, still loves me. He is the one who holds me up the most. According to what they say, your spouse is meant to be your best friend. I suppose in some ways he is. I need more than that though.
I don’t have that one special friend, the one who knows me better than I know myself.
What I do have is a close circle of friends. Small but powerful to me. Some of us go back twenty years, some of us two. This group includes my husband, my sister, my mum, women who are older, women who are younger. These Women, and token Man are all my besties. Each of them has traits, strengths in areas different to the rest. Something that makes them unique. Something that brings a special connection to our relationship. When I need to talk about my troubles, when I need to celebrate, when I need advice, I know who is the best to go to in that moment.
My closest friends have seen me at my absolute best, and my absolute worst. They love me for me, and I love them for who they are. I cannot remember life before each of them was present within it. I cannot fathom life without. Right now I cannot bare that I don’t get to hug them all, smell their hair, their perfume, snuggle on the couch as we eat pizza, drink too much wine talk trash. I am devastated that I am missing key birthdays and weddings.
So in honour of my beautiful and wonderful friends, I’d like to repost something I wrote just before we left Australia. It is called A Love Letter.
This post is written for the Friday Reflections Link-Up, using the prompt ‘describe your best friend’.