Gratitude Post 9: Great Friends, Grateful Heart
At the end of each month here on TKL, I like to express something I am grateful for through a gratitude post.
Some of the most recent gratitude posts included my beautiful mother, my sisters, 2400 East, my community college experience and this abundant Earth that we are upon.
This month’s gratitude post highlights those incredible people who make our life that much better, that much brighter, our Friends.
The Gift of Friendship
I am thankful for this experience of life, the way things have aligned in such a way that I am able to have some of the greatest friends I could imagine.
Growing up in Salt Lake City, Utah, I had the opportunity to be raised with both my mom and my grandparents. Being that my grandparents lived in a nice part of town, I stayed with them throughout my childhood.
This provided me with the opportunity to go to the same elementary school, middle school and high school throughout my years of early education. Going to the same schools, I had the opportunity of meeting lifelong friends.
I still remember meeting one of my first friends, Paul, in kindergarten. Being raised in the upper east side of Salt Lake City, the majority of the people were of European descent.
Paul and I were the only two kids in the kindergarten class who were from different ethnic backgrounds, Paul being Polynesian, and me African American. Paul and I are still best friends and reminisce about those days of ashy skin and tracing our fingernails across it to leave white streaks.
However, I wasn’t just hanging out with the children that looked like me, I became friends with kids who had good hearts.
I have too many great friends to mention them all here, but I would like to express from the depths of my heart that it is you, my friends since elementary school, who’ve especially helped me find the true me.
As one of my great friends in California tells me, “Our lives mean what they mean because of the relationships and people in them.”
Here’s to all those friends who have always been there, supporting and willing to help me grow into something greater. Thank you for your inspiration.
Power of Friends
I could ramble on for 10,000+ words expressing countless stories and friendships that I developed during my early years, my college years in Seattle, working time in California or my current experience in Atlanta.
But instead, I’d like to ask you to look deeper within and bring to mind all the incredible people that you have in your life. All those friends who have helped you in becoming a better person.
We’ve all probably had a few friends who’ve set us back a bit, but today let’s focus on those friends who’ve empowered us, supported us and helped us discover more of who we are.
This inward discovery is one of the greatest gifts that a good friend can give.
Helping you find a better you.
True friends lead to more happiness and more joy.
True friends help us remain aware of all the appreciation and love we are able to experience each and every day.
Seek true friends.
A Greater Life
Life gets greater when we have great people in it.
If you don’t happen to have great friends around you at the moment, remind yourself that you can be the great friend you are seeking to find for others.
Continue to give and keep an open heart for those people who wait to meet you.
As the Buddha said, “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle and the life of the candle will not be shortened.”
Share your kindness with others and don’t forget to be a great friend to yourself.
3 Keys Ways To Know You Have Great Friends
#1 – Honesty – You know that you have great friends if they are willing to assist you throughout your journey of life. Willing to build you up from your lows and humble you at your peaks. They not only pat you on the back for your accomplishments but provide constructive criticism for you to help maximize your potential.
#2 – Supportive – You know you have great friends if they support you and let you be you. Great friends support your evolution of life, respect your spiritual path, see the best in you, respect your other relationships and are there when you get stuck.
#3 – Encourage You To Be Greater – You know you have great friends if they’re not only honest and supportive, but are also using their time and energy to become better themselves; creating an environment where thriving is a common occurrence. When you are surrounded by a quality group of friends who are focused on becoming better, you have no choice but to expand into a greater version of you as well. Great friends cause us to grow.
Gratitude
Today, let us be grateful for our true friends.
This week, take some time to call your friends who’ve been there for you.
Thank them, schedule a time to meet up with them, or send them a gratitude card.
Make a habit of calling a friend or someone who means a lot to you a minimum of once a week. This not only allows you to thank others, but it helps you find more gratitude within yourself.
To all my friends, thank you.
You are appreciated beyond measure.
Peace
Happiness
Compassion
Respect
Jeffon Seely
Three Key Life