Friendship & Facing Fears

I’ve had an interesting week or two that has been relatively blissful but has also raised a few important questions.
Have you ever sometimes wondered about the way some friends come into your life? Sure, we all have friends we made at work, school, sporting groups etc, but then there are those that just really make you think - HUH??? How did that happen? It surprises you because you weren’t looking to ‘make friends’, unlike when you were at school or trying to make work more enjoyable.
Well I have a few of those in my life and believe me, I am very grateful for them.
The other thing that has been brought up recently for me was the way in which we move forward from our disappointments.
Do we ‘toughen the hell up’, putting up barriers, walls and try to not let ourselves be hurt or disappointed again OR do we try to keep our hearts and minds open to possibilities and to life.
Well, the walls, the barriers - they’re fear. Pure and simply. Nothing more.
Think about that.
Who really wants to live in fear and yet we do it, every day.
Our defense mechanisms to shut out stuff that might actually make us happy, but of course it makes us vulnerable. Or does it? Is it not strength rather than weakness to be who we truly are, not to wear a mask portraying what we think others want to see and not who we really are.
I think true friends, however they come into your life and regardless of how long you’ve known them, can hold that mirror up to you and show you who you are and whether you’re being authentic in the moment or not.
I had that this last couple of weeks. I had a few friends (including my sister) raise these aspects within me, because I did it. I felt myself setting off that wall (i like to think of mine like those ones at the bank - bang and they’re up), but the realisation comes after it’s all said and done.
And now I’ve seen it, so I’m catching myself.... through friends that allow you to see yourself...... and hopefully they won’t get too frightened and flee into the night : )

Aren’t fears best conquered? How can we do it with bungy jumping or sky diving but not with our conscious selves.

So thank you - I’m sure you know who you are


Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.
Marcel Proust

Courage is doing what you're afraid to do.  There can be no courage unless you're scared.  ~Edward Vernon Rickenbacker
Courage is never to let your actions be influenced by your fears.  ~Arthur Koestler