Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Love Letter to My People

It really is not fair that I, Julie, should have THE MOST AMAZING GROUP OF FRIENDS EVER ASSEMBLED ON PLANET EARTH all for myself. But alas, it’s the truth. I have the best friends ever.

They are with me arm-and-arm through the ups and downs of life, and I am so grateful. A few live nearby, but most of them live out-of-state or at least a few hours away. The long-distance ones are just a text or Facebook message away, and are always at the ready to offer whatever I seem to need at the moment. They love me as I am. They know my strengths, shortcomings, sensitivities, passions. They love me toward the direction of the best version of myself. These people are a diverse group of people: women and men, my age and thirty years my senior, different life perspectives and varying professions. All of this variety creates a deep well of wisdom from which to draw.

Their companionship is particularly amazing as I give birth to myself as a writer.

They, more than me, believe this writer-thing is real and that my life will change because of it. They even believe others’ lives will change because of it. (Cue tears now.) They are dreaming big, believing big, and taking me along for the ride.

My friend, TW, has self-identified as my book tour groupie. She calls me “the personality” and daydreams about “bringing me tea.” It makes me smile every time I think of it, and makes me want to write more and better words. Because of her, I’ve begun mentally assembling the book tour wardrobe I will pack and adding places I want to go to the book tour line-up.

Today I read this post by one of our mutually favorite writers, Glennon Doyle Melton, the author of Carry On, Warrior. It made me GOL (giggle out loud). I texted TW to alert her to the fact that it was must-read material.

TW soon texted me this reply, “I solemnly swear I will NEVER EVER let you use those chicken cutlet fake boobies.” Given my recent posts about being skinny and accepting it, I love TW’s assertion that she will help me stay true to myself. Another hallmark of true friendship.

Since there is no way for me to express to these people the depth of my gratitude, I’m using 300 rejections as my megaphone to broadcast how much I love them and how grateful I am for their love, laughter, honesty, and desire for me to be the best Julie I can be. I so want to make them proud.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU!

3 comments:

  1. I mean, not "OLD" as in OLD...just as in we go way back.
    Oh boy...

    ReplyDelete
  2. That is so funny Julie. My first thought when I read Glennon's blog today was, "oh, I can't wait for Julie to go on her book tour! " Then quickly followed by, "I'd totally send her boobs back to her if that's what made her feel comfortable enough to be on the Today Show". So, both of your bases (pun intended) are covered....if TW can't talk you our of the boobs, I'll send them back to you! :)

    ReplyDelete