Yesterday I was chatting with friends from college on Facebook. They had made me smiling and laughing out loud here in Turkey . It seemed as if we where back on campus in the 90′s at N.C. State.
It made me realize just how blessed I was to have met such wonderful friends in in my life. Even though I’m always traveling the world playing basketball I never forget any of them. Although we don’t stay in touch everyday, when we do talk it seems we pick right back up where we left off.
One of my roommates from college sent me an email telling me how proud she she of me with my career success and achievement. It really made me smile. I get a lot of comments like this from my friends all the time and every time I hear it it makes my heart smile. But what they don’t know and I usually don’t get to tell them is just how proud I am of them.
I am very proud of my friends and all the things they have accomplished, I’m proud of the beautiful families they have. I’m proud of the jobs, and businesses they have started and are apart of. I’m happy to see how we have all grown up and have stayed true to each other and ourselves.
Whatever accomplishments I may have achieved in my life it was my friends from Highschool and college that I owe so much to in helping me reach the level of success I have today. I can remember many times in High school and College my friends wouldn’t let me be apart of some of the “not so positive” things that where going on around us. They wanted to protect me because they wanted me to achieve my goals. They wanted tos see me become my very best and not have anything hindering me or interfering with the goals I had openly shared with them. I look back now and appreciate having those people in my life. Having positive people like that around enabled me to reach my goals and kept me out of a lot of trouble.
As I have grown up and been introduced to many different places and faces I have found out the hard way that everybody that smiles at you and calls you a friend may not have your very best interest at heart.
Early on in my professional career I was really naive when it came to choosing and discerning who is someone you can trust and who is someone you just need to talk about the weather with.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxni-FM-UVA
Coming from a small town where everybody is family it has taken me a while to learn how to be more discerning with whom I choose to become friends with. And although I have some really wonderful friends some of them weren’t so wonderful. They would claim they had my best interest at heart. I could tell from their actions that just wasn’t the case. Maya Angelou said it best “When someone shows you who they are BELIEVE THEM”
I’m sure everyone has gone through this, and I confess for me it is a very difficult thing to learn and and understand. I see myself as a person who loves hard and I believe I am a loyal friend so when I befriend people I want them to be a friend for life. I’m like Chucky I’ll be your friend till the end…(LOL in a good way)
I have learned not everybody is meant to be a friend for life and some people you have to let go and learn how to move on and trust God. This I am learning to do and getting better and better as God gives me grace.
So for the young kids and grown kids out there, surround yourself with positive people. People that respect what you believe in . People that respect your family and the things that are close to you. Make sure that your friends always have your best interest at heart and that they are uplifting and accept you just the way you are. Most of all your friends should make you a better person.
When people hurt you remember to forgive. I believe in second chances, and I know its important to forgive others as you too will need to be forgiven at times. So as you go on this journey called life remember to keep check on your surroundings. Celebrate and Appreciate the friends that are dear to you and keep them close and stay in touch.
To all my friends out there, I’m proud of you and thanks for keeping me around. Thanks for putting up with me all these years even when I was “MIA”. It’s great to know that I have your love and support.
