MY people and criteria........

This process and the experiences I have had the last few years has been a doing and an undoing.....an undoing of what I thought my "life plan" was.....which was marriage and family, and teaching......and raising kids.....and that was about where my imagination for it all ended.....and I was fine with that....and then my life exploded and got dismantled and my life had to take a new direction.....with lots of new possibilities and looking very different......and after the dust settled......some friends didn't stay.....or I suppose people I thought were my friends didn't .......but a good portion did.....and then I made new ones......lots of new ones that have proven their worth and loyalty to me.....and now my criteria is different...I am requiring fierce loyalty.....and true friendship......and support......and an understanding of my experience and mine of theirs......a kinship maybe.....and it is so very interesting to me to think of this.....we share our lives with so many players in our lives....if you have some age under your belt lol:) And you think back on your life.....and all of the people you walked with along the way for a certain period, it is kind of fascinating right? Interesting to think of.....and only a few remain in all the chapters of your life.....or most of the chapters....and I have been blessed with a decent amount that have spanned decades.....but often new folks come into a decade or a chapter quite by surprise...and I guess my point in exploring this is thinking that it matters the company we keep......it is important.....and we should be mindful of the people we surround ourselves with......and be sure they represent the things we want in our lives.....and our group of friends change sometimes, and when those changes come I no longer resist them....I accept that the people meant to be, will be and will remain in my life, and the ones that we outgrow or change paths from are meant to do just that too......a reason, a season, a lifetime:) SO true.....all those old adages are a thing for a reason;-)......and I suppose the other piece is to not to cling onto any relationship, or get too attached to how long our friends stay.....or how long they walk with us.....knowing that that timing is perfect. Already laid out.....and knowing it can change at any moment too.....and it occurred to me how many people I know......like a ton....and such fine people......and how blessed I have always been to have the support I have needed in each chapter as it has unfolded.....and while I have been betrayed too....those people were once my people too......they just are no longer....my criteria is clear now in this chapter.....and that has allowed for me to maintain so many great friendships and make some really great new ones:) Looking for depth and quality connections always! Happy Monday! Make it a good one!