I am so fortunate to have some amazing friends. The power of friendship is sometimes stronger than family bonds. With your friends — you share, cry, laugh, go on adventures, and call bullshit when needed. My friends are always game to try an adventure, do something new, and we are there for each other whatever it is.

My friends challenge me often — which I am so appreciative of. Sharing your life with good friends makes every up and down so much easier. Friends should lift, inspire, and support you.

I am an early riser (really early 4:30am - 5:00am). So is Sarah thankfully. You can count on the early morning text always starting with “good morning — how did you sleep?” Then it's either a thumbs up or down. From there texts can be about the day ahead, the random black hair that grew overnight on your chin, a book read, a new adventure, or other updates.

When either of us doesn't get a text by 7 am we start to get concerned. I so look forward to our exchanges every morning as much as my coffee, morning meditation, and journaling. It is how I start my day.

When I was contemplating this project of 52 weekly blogs in 2022 — it was just an idea that I started to share with my friends. They took my idea and built on it, encouraged it, supported it, and my friend Sarah provided the name: Being. The topics were endless and allowed for total flexibility.

Alice, Janet, Sarah, and I have a Virtual happy hour every 2 weeks — these zoom meetings have allowed us to share so much, laugh, and stay connected.

During one of these calls we decided to go to Spirit of the West for a 5-day kayak adventure last summer, this year we will all attend the Edmonton Folk Festival (fingers crossed music festivals this summer will be back on after a 2-year hiatus) and in 2023 we'll be California bound.

This is just one group of friends. I am so fortunate to have friends from all different eras — some I met as a teenager, in my 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s. Some I see monthly, some semi-annually, some daily and some randomly. All so important to me — and friendships that I cherish.

When you have a good friend you just pick up where you left off and it is so comfortable. So many words you do not need to say as it is known.

I hope I am there for them as they are there for me.

Send a card, a letter, a call, or shoutout a friend you value and appreciate. That is your challenge this week. Let them know what you did.