friendship

My friends are like a field of lush wildflowers.

Each beautiful. Each unique.

Each showing me what is still unresolved in my inner world in addition to reflecting back to me the joy I experience in life.

A friend of 37 years stayed with me for a few days. There is nothing quite like one who has witnessed your ‘story’ for that long

. We have walked a parallel path of personal growth all those years and have remained connected.

This friend is quiet. Being in her presence is like sitting on the bank of a still pond. She offers silence and welcomes thoughts and reflections that bubble up from within.

She also asks poignant questions.

We ventured up to a panoramic mountain point to gain perspective on our respective journeys and allowed the beauty of nature guide us.

As we sat there, she asked a question about the time before we met, specifically about my first marriage. She listened quietly for the memories I had tucked away.

It was a painful time but a prescient inquiry as I am about to head back to the source, the land that held me as I launched into the larger world at age 20.

What a circuitous journey we each have had, full of twists and turns.

We recalled life events that strung together like the pearls of a necklace,

bring us to this present moment.

We dug deeply, exposing the roots of experiences that have informed our lives.

Along my path, there is often a tree (of beliefs)

that begs to be trimmed of the old dead branches that no longer serve.

To make space for a new belief to emerge from the undergrowth.

We returned home, tired and satisfied. Both full and empty from the exploration. Wiser for having risked telling stories buried in the past.

Luna’s sweet nature made a beautiful ending to the day.

Thank you, my friend, a very beautiful, unique wildflower.