When we gather together, we find ourselves in the eyes of a good friend.
One evening a few years ago, as I struggled to put my 7-year-old down for bed, I was anchored by the presence of my friend Amanda Soule sitting at my kitchen table knitting.
She wasn’t telling me what to do when my daughter wanted a bowl of cereal just before lights out (the answer was no because dinner wasn’t eaten, and as much as I love my girl, a dinner of sugar and carbs just wasn’t going to happen). Amanda didn’t judge me for my messy house or the emotional outbursts of a full family or the constant screen time I was managing over here. In fact, she energized me with her caliber and her grace.
I fell in love with Amanda years ago when my boys were little, and I was phasing into all things mother. Her blog grounded and inspired me and reminded me that I was exactly where I needed to be. Knowing her now in the flesh and honored to have her friendship in my heart, I feel so grateful that she has shared herself the way she has.
In my dreamy mind, I would have had a perfect table with wholesome food for every meal of our few days together. The weekend would have been perfect with happy perfect children and every moment exquisite.
Gratefully, I don’t live there, in that land of false perfection.
Gratefully, the simple dishes I made with the imperfection of family life was just right.
Gratefully, the exquisiteness came from real exchanges of heart and soul, respect and love.
My life is messy sometimes—ok, a lot of the time. My kids argue, I’m constantly looking for my phone, (who would have thought it was in the laundry room this morning!), and I have zero time to call my mom (hi mom, I know you’re reading this and I love you truly, madly, deeply).
As Amanda and I sat together talking about the many things that fill a life—like children, husbands, career and creativity—I realized just how much I needed this visit. Being there for one another is something that I know we all are feeling. The need for community and connection is an ache we all feel. Showing up for the women in our lives is important. The value of female friendship cannot be overstated.
Today I bow to this messy life, and I will organize and clean the kitchen. I bow to my daughter and her growing self, and I will connect with her and find our way together. I bow to my boys and all they teach me, and I choose to stretch and to see the emerging young men they are becoming. Today I will bow to it all, because that’s the way I love my life.
I step into the deepest gratitude and I look to where I need to stretch and I do it. I STRETCH because I must. The warrior woman in me activates through my practice. My heart is nourished by my conversations with my friends and I keep on keeping up. I cry when I need to and feel no need to explain why. I look to humor as medicine and music as the backdrop to my everything.
Thank you for being here.
