Love Surges
Sometimes I have these exhilarating moments I affectionately call “love surges”. They are moments where I just feel a flood (or surge) of love and appreciation for the people in my life and wish I could scoop them all up into one giant group hug and somehow find the words in that moment to tell each of them how much they mean to me and how much I value them and am thankful to have them in my life.
I figured maybe this would be a good way for me to express it…even though I like the big group hug idea better. :)
For starters, I have an incredible family that I treasure more than anything. We make each other laugh on a regular basis. We challenge each other toward growth, give lots of hugs, remind each other to have good table manners, take turns doing the stuff no ones wants to do around the house, and have passionate discussions and debates on every topic imaginable. We have been through so much together and are stronger (individually and collectively) for it. Grudges don’t stand a chance…because they won’t have much time to develop. We might have small disagreements about things but we all prioritize communication and keeping the team unified so we work things out quickly…which I so appreciate about them. They have seen me at my highest highs and lowest lows and we have overcome huge challenges together. Their unconditional and unfailing love has remained constant through every life storm and I can’t express enough how much they mean to me.
Secondly, I’m dating a man who I wish I could give gold stars to on a daily basis just for being who he is. His patience, strength and character continually amaze and inspire me. He knows how to draw out the very best sides of me and his encouragement makes me feel like I can do pretty much anything. He has an uncanny ability to say what I’m thinking. We have talked countless hours over many months and I’m as intrigued as I was in our first conversation. He has a brilliantly witty sense of humor and can make me laugh harder than anyone. I have never had so many inside jokes with one person. He knows me incredibly well and while at one point that kinda scared me a little bit, I realize now what a rare and beautiful gift it is to have someone in your life who wants to know you that well…and I treasure it highly. Against crazy odds, we met in a pretty unexpected and unlikely way. In the past 7 months I have had the privilege of getting to know a man that adds so much strength, laughter, insight, inspiration and joy to my life that he makes me want to continually grow and become a better me.
And then there are my friends….those incredible gems who sparkle and shine their light into both my life and the lives of others. My girlfriends have become like sisters and we have truly walked through life together. Whether we met in 5th grade, college or 2 months ago, each has had a significant role in my life and I’m so honored to be a part of theirs. We’ve been there for each other through studying for finals, birthdays, boyfriends and break-ups, engagements, weddings, deaths of family or friends, divorces, the births of their children and the in-between day to day moments that fill up our lives. We’ve cried on each others’ couches, cheered each other on, shared more than a few bottles of wine. I’ve done their hair & make-up for their wedding and they’ve helped me pack boxes and move into new apartments. I’ve learned so much from their love and we’ve made each other into better friends over time.
Here’s a blog toast to the people I’m truly honored to share life with.
(Ok blog readers…now your turn…who do you feel those surges of love and appreciation for? Have you told them lately how much you value them and how thankful you are to have them in your life? Take a moment today to express that…in whatever creative or colorful way you care to do so.)
