This year, as always, I had another birthday.  Somehow, this birthday was distinctive and very poignant to me. I am not so old that I should be worried it could be my last! So as the day went on, I realized it was the sheer outpouring of love and well-wishing from the people in my life.

I discovered as friends reached out, I was drawn into deep thought on my experiences with them. I pondered throughout the day my relationship with each one.  As I did so, my energy increased and my gratitude grew tenfold. I perceived immediately the impact they have had on my life.  Quite literally, these friends have been lifelines. (Of course my family members have been lifelines too, but I will save that for another post.) I started to reminiscence and somewhere along the way I began to understand the stupendous, considerable gifts these friends have contributed to my life.

A few have been friends since I was a small child, others have been high school buddies and college chums.  Several were neighbours, gym buddies, PTA pals, surrogate moms and dads, work buddies and some are even children whom I have coached or taught. A few were accidental friends and a couple more were ones I sought out.

With each friend countless memories came flooding back, and I found myself reliving them like a rerun of a favourite show.  I would have to write a book to truly do them justice, but I want to expound on just a few.  In part to acknowledge their great worth, while also demonstrating the significant addition they have been to my life.

One childhood friend realized I was painfully shy and lacking confidence, so she reached out to me and shared her confidence, until I found my own.  Another was a college friend who knew I was far from home and invited me to join in with her when she drove home on holidays.  One amazing new friend in LA, whom I barely knew, listened when I told her of my sister’s sudden wedding announcement and my desire to attend.  After disclosing my lack of finances to afford to fly my whole family there, she immediately offered to babysit my two daughters and I flew back for the wedding. A neighbour of two weeks in a new state, knowing my husband was out-of-town, rushed to the scene of an accident I was in.  When he saw that I couldn’t walk, he scooped me up in his arms and carried me gently to his car and took me home where his daughter was babysitting my girls. When I ended up having to have knee surgery due to that accident, he and his wife were like grandparents to us. Supplying soccer lessons to keep my girls occupied, and spoiling me with homemade cannoli aided and comforted me in my trying time.

Then there was the neighbour who became a second mom to my children. Her house was always open to them. When my son put his teeth through his bottom lip while jumping on my bed and blood was everywhere, she comforted both of us.  Yet another compassionate friend knew I was struggling with teenagers and rescued me time and time again by playing racquetball with me to help blow off steam. She  would comment humourously that she was glad she wasn’t the ball being hit so hard that it flew at her like a bullet! Our mornings at the gym grounded me and enabled me to handle stressful situations that undoubtedly occur with teenagers. One final example was a friend who showed up every day during a recovery fraught with problems after a painful operation. I silently counted the hours until I knew she would appear and distract me from my pain for a while.  I am convinced her visits contributed greatly to my physical health, but also to sustaining my mental health!

Each of these reflections left me feeling invigorated and rejuvenated, making me feel younger, not another year older. I am so grateful and indebted to the many magnificent souls who have enriched my life beyond measure. I labeled this post “Lifelines” because that is what friends ultimately are.  They carry you when you are struggling, come to your aid in times of trouble, share your sorrows, whoop it up in the good times and do it all without being asked. Rediscovering the marvelous influence friends give, I’m inspired to reach out and be a better friend to all those I encounter in my life. Perhaps, both you and I can make a positive change in our world if we strive to befriend all who cross our path.