Today’s Living By Design Monday Motivation post is in honor of my closest friends, one of whom is having a birthday this week, as well as all of the women I am blessed to work with. I hope each of you are fortunate to have a small handful of people you can call Friend.

This quote sums up how I feel about some of my closest friends. Over the years, I have gained a brother and a few sisters that my Mom didn’t even give birth to!

What makes a friend genuine to me, is that they don’t judge. I am unique. I am a little quirky. And I am surprisingly shy (technically, I’m an introvert). So while I am genuine with everybody I meet, I can really be myself with the people I call my friends. 

Real friends don’t have to be living on the same block as they did when I was growing up. When I was in elementary school, my closest friends were all within walking (or roller skating) distance. Now, they are scattered across the country. It’s so special to pick up the phone and pick up as if it was just yesterday we spoke!

And ultimately, I’ve learned that I don’t have enough energy to deal with people who don’t offer a similar sincerity. Life is too short to put out energy that isn’t returned. I have those people in my life by default (don’t we all?!), but it’s important to draw boundaries, treat them with love, and know that it’s not your responsibility to change them into the person you wish they were.

It is, however, our choice who we surround ourselves with. I am intentional about it too. I enjoy the feeling of LIFE that my closest friends evoke in me. It doesn’t matter what we are doing, but when I leave their company I feel like I am a better person in some small way. I love that!!

And finally, when I was a teenager, my Daddy told me that as I got older I would be able to count my true friends on one hand. I didn’t believe him at the time. After all, I was 14 and knew everything. (Plus, didn’t he know I had a TON of friends?!) But he was correct. The digits on one hand counts the people I now call Friend. I would not have it any other way.

So while this Monday Motivation post was not as “rah rah” as some others, I hope it motivates you to call a friend and tell them how much you love and appreciate them. And remind them every chance you can.

XOXO

Michelle

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