Seasonal Friends

My friend, Kasey, over at Midnitemonologues wrote a post about friendship a while back and included the phrase “a reason, a season, and a lifetime friend.”  The post made me start to think about my friends and particularly my seasonal friends.  When I started learning about the Law of Attraction, I quickly realized that relationships may just be the most obvious indicator of this law at work.  It seems that your attitude, thoughts, and interest determine the people you will attract into your life.  And all of the people who arrive in your life are there to help you.  If you are extremely down, it might take spending a year hanging out with Eeyore for you to realize he is a mirror of yourself and looking in that mirror pushes you towards change.

When I moved to Florida as a new mom, I wanted to connect with other moms like me.  Breastfeeding was one of the most important parenting issues to me so I attended a support group for nursing moms.  I met two friends during my first meeting and gradually our little group grew to 10 moms.  Of that group, 6 of us had had c-sections and 6 of us nursed our “babies” until they were between 2-3 years old.  We were definitely not the norm, but we all found each other and stayed connected for years.  But gradually the seasons started to change, schedules got busy, kids started preschool, misunderstandings took place, and our interests changed.  The group began to scatter as I morphed from a floundering new mom to an aspiring writer and spiritual seeker.  Old friends were less available and new friends began to arrive.

One day a neighbor knocked on our door and asked if Mark would run for our Home Owner’s Association board.  For whatever reason I said “well, I don’t think Mark could do it, but what about me?”  Next thing I know I’m on the HOA board and I’m at a meeting showing off my first published article about the Law of Attraction to my neighbor.  From that we figured out we had the same interests.  I have been introduced to so many new ideas through this friend.  She is so important to my journey. I only stayed on the HOA board for one year, but she and I have now been friends for two.

Recently I’ve watched new friends appear in my life.  I’ve also had some long lost friends reappear.  Almost all of them represent something within me that I want to bring forth.  There is Stacia who is so strong, passionate, and independent; Kasey who is loving, embracing, and supportive; Stephanie (Stacia’s sister) who is so attentive, interested, and connected with others.  It had been 20 years since I’d seen Stephanie and Stacia, and about 15 for Kasey…but it is obvious to me why they are back now.  What I observe in them is what I want to manifest in myself.  Then there are the new friends that I am watching follow their dreams and use their creativity to lead them to careers they love.  Lissa is waiting to hear about a book deal, Megan just got a job with Owning Pink, Lisa (at One Hip Mom) has started creating these beautiful dresses and other items for her own Etsy shop, and Cheryl is consciously creating a life of JOY!

So even though it is sad sometimes when the seasons change, there is always something that arrives with the new!  I’ve learned from and loved so many friends!  I can easily see the lessons from some of you and am still waiting to see what will unfold with those who’ve just arrived.  Whether it’s a season or a lifetime…you are all truly VITAL!