Do you know...

How valuable you are to the people in your life?  Sometimes it is easy to just pass through the day and just "know" your s/o knows you love them, or your family members and friends just know that you appreciate the help and support they provide.  Why do we forget to mention daily that we love and appreciate the people in our lives?  Why is it when something is taken from you, you then remember how much you loved, appreciated, and valued that person? It is so easy to take for granted that they will be there the next day or the next few hours. 

We go through our daily lives just acting like the people in our world are just supposed to know we care for them.  Why? Is it because we speak everyday, you know the basic stuff? Or because we celebrate each other on bdays, anniversaries, or holiday's? Or is it because we told them on last week we loved them or thank you? Shouldn't this be a daily thing? Daily words and actions that match? What are our actions showing? 

I am very guilty of this, I am not an emotional person AT ALL and I don't need to be told a lot that you love me, or thanking me, or just telling me what I mean to you.  I feel like I know my s/o loves me he shows it in his actions, but why am I taking away his need to tell me what his actions already show me? Selfish maybe, well probably just a little bit, I guess it is something I need to work on; cause we ALL need work. 

My Sis Reecie sent me an email yesterday Learning from Erin based on a conversation we had a while back she said this made her think of me.  And I guess the lesson is this you really never know how valuable you are to someone.  You never know what allowing them to tell you how they feel about makes them feel, eventhough you may not need to hear it, they made need to say it.  Just being kind, appreciative, and receptive can really help nuture and foster our relationships, all of our relationships.

Everyday when I see my daughter she screams to the top of her lungs "mommy is home" and run's and gives me this big kiss.  It makes all the "issues" of the day seem pointless, man I swear we could really learn something from children.  I was having a converation with a girlfriend last night who is just really going through it and I didn't do much talking I just listened and reassured her that God has her back and what he has for her NO ONE has take away.  Just to really pray about what is going on and LISTEN to him as he will guide her correctly.  So once we ended our conversation she said to me " Thanks for lisetening & ur support Crys" and my response was "no thanks needed I love you and am truly here to support you" once again failing to allow someone to tell me thanks and that they appreciated me.

Am I faulty for this?  I mean for me I feel like I just don't need to be told thanks and I appreciate your help, I don't do things for thanks.  I do it cause I truly want to be there and help my friends.  I guess this is something that I really need to work on I have to realize it is not just for me.  People are expressing thanks and letting me know I am valuable to them and they need to do that.

The importance of friendship...

I am an only child and have been ok with that my whole life, I have never really had close female friends and thought I never needed them. I don't have a bff and am ok with that, many call me somewhat of a loner. However, now at 30 I truly understand the need to have and foster those "girlfriend" #nohomo relationships.

There are several women in my circle who I admire, respect, love and want to be just like when I grow up for several different reasons. I am a firm believer that if you can't look at the people in your circle and learn something from them, be inspired by them, be encouraged by them, be pushed by them, and simply want to be like them you may need a new circle. Why would anyone seriously consider being friends with someone that they can't learn anything from? Why would anyone consider being friends with someone who never has anything positive going on in their lives?

I promise when I am at my wits end I can reach out to any of these women and they will be right there for me no questions asked!!! You know why? cause they love me, care about me, want me to be happy, and they know I will do the same. I can also reach out to them for a good laugh, your friends just shouldn't be there when something is wrong, you have to share the good times as well. Some people only need a friend when they are going through it -- but forget your number when something good happens to you, for you or for them.  Reciprocity is a must in all relationships you can't always be on the receiving end , we all have to give a little.

Let me just speak to that for a minute -- Webster defines reciprocity - as a mutual exchange of privileges.  This is such an important element of any relationship.  I think people tend to forget that "girlfriend #nohomo relationships need this just as must as romantic relationships.  Why do you think it is so hard for people to understand this concept?  I mean for me and my friendships this is a must -- not just because it is the right thing to do BUT because I love giving my friends the very best of me, I love knowing they know they can depend on me, I love knowing they know I won't judge, I love knowing they know what we talk about stays with just us, I love knowing they know they can trust me -- PERIOD!
 
 
I love surrounding myself with strong women, it never fails when I feel like I am lacking something I can go to anyone of them and get exactly what I need.  Most times they don't even know their testimonies are speaking to my very soul.  One thing that is important to me in a friendship is pure uncut honesty... I am the type of person who needs it and gives it; I also need people who are vaults and don't judge.

When I tell you over the past year God has blessed me with multiple friendships like that...chile I am not even sure I can put that into words. I look forward to getting input from them, advice ( I may not always follow), and even criticism from them. These women support me no matter what but they also will check my ass if I am just being crazy -- which I can often be.

One other thing that make me smile when I think of these women is the fact that they will be and are active in my daughters life.  I am so happy she will have a ton of strong women around her to look up to.

There is no need for me to list the names of these women, they know who they are.  I don't hide my love, admiration, and respect for them.  I try to make sure I let them know daily what they mean to me and my life.