Thankful: Friends

I've noticed a bunch of people on Facebook are doing a sort of countdown of thankfulness leading up to Thanksgiving. I try not to fall into the trend of dictated statuses on Facebook, although I will admit to having participated in the doppelganger photo trend. (I couldn't help it, too many people have told me I look like Amy Adams.) Anyway I thought that perhaps I would do a few posts between now and the holiday to talk about what I'm thankful for in my life. I'm going to start with a very important one, friends.

I am extremely lucky to have a slew of really great friends in my life. People who are completely committed to making sure I see every and all internet link related to maps, penguins, cupcakes or whatever our latest planned travel escapade is. People who listen patiently as I gush on and on about my adorable dog. People that understand that sometimes all you really need is a glass of wine, or 5. People who know it's okay to enable me sometimes when it comes to shopping or who motivate me to get off my butt and do something. People who understand that sometimes life just gets in the way of making plans and are okay with waiting for a better time. People who show me new things and allow me to offer them the same. People who laugh at and with me at all appropriate times. People who seem perfectly fine with the fact that I have a really weird habit of not making good eye contact (seriously, it's a bad, ingrained habit). People who invite me to book club even though they know I rarely read books just because they enjoy my company. People who don't get too annoyed that I will rehash the same story or topic multiple times because it's really weighing on my mind.

All of my friends are different. Very different. And it is the differences that make them all so completely amazing. They are supportive, energizing, calming, motivating, inspiring, fantastic people and I really don't know how I would get along without them. Every single one of them. I often ponder what will happen in the coming years how things will change as our family hopefully grows. I'm going to do everything in my power to try and maintain these friends at the best level that I can. It'll be a challenge but I'm up for it because I strongly believe in holding on to something that important.