Friendly reflections

This #thankyouthursday, I am grateful for friendly reflections.

And by “friendly reflections,” I mean “thoughtful reflections my friends offer me.”

In particular, this week I received two that bolstered my spirits and helped me shift my perspective.

One friend called spontaneously on Tuesday night, during a time I would normally have been occupied with post-dinner toddler entertainment, but in that exact moment B was actually passed out on my lap, having opted to skip his afternoon nap and mix things up with his sleep schedule.

Because of that divine timing, I was able to tell my dear friend all about all the things happening in my life right now, most of which I’d describe as “long-term positive, short-term stressful.” And her friendly reflection (that I was being hard on myself, and maybe even self-sabotaging; that it’s okay to feel stress even when things are ultimately positive) was exactly what I needed.

Then yesterday I had a conflict with a family member, and I reached out to a different friend about my lingering discomfort so that I wouldn’t have to keep carrying it. She responded with a friendly reflection of her own: a five-minute audio message that perfectly identified every aspect and angle of the situation while also validating my experience and offering me reassurance.

These reflections from my friends are so valuable to me. They help me see myself and my circumstances with increased understanding and renewed appreciation, and I am so grateful to receive them.

Love > fear,
Christina