To a Forever Friend:

You have a heart that is larger than life. You sacrifice your happiness for the happiness of others. You are selfless and humble. You are the rock for all of your friends. You are trustworthy. You are brave beyond measure. You are always the one with all of the answers. You are the shoulder for your friends to cry on when the world appears to be crumbling around them.

You are also the one to save your tears for times when no one is around to hear you sniffle. You hide your sorrow with a smile. You are terrified to open yourself up and be vulnerable. You have been through mental wars and you have the scars to prove it but you cover them well. You feel like you give 100%, yet others only give 50%. You feel like no one cares to the extent that you care.

The good news is you are an extraordinary human. You have more people that are there for you than you think. You are not a bother. You are not a problem. You are human. No one is perfect. Everyone has bad days, mental breakdowns, relationship problems and arguments with friends. No one expects you to be happy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

You have to acknowledge those emotions and accept those feelings. Bottling every negative emotion leads to a drained battery. An absence of strength. It’s okay to be the one who needs a friend to talk to. I know you like to be your own best friend but when you are alone with your own thoughts, taking your own advice is counter productive. Sometimes you need to hear your own advice come from another person. That does not make you weak. That does not make you needy. It makes you human. Your problems are no smaller nor bigger than the next person.

If you are having trouble finding the “you’s” in the universe, don’t panic they are out there. Don’t trouble yourself with people who are self consumed and narcissistic. They will do their best to listen and give advice but at the end of the day they are incapable of empathy. You cannot fix every person that walks into your life. As the forever friend you must respect yourself and entertain those who will give you the respect you give to others.

The important thing to remember is forever friends attract forever friends. Together your love is infinite, your strength is unwavering and your passions radiate to the people and the environment that you surround yourself with. Always being the friend can be difficult but it is rewarding. Don’t ever feel like you are alone. You are not under appreciated. You are the reason why someone stops crying, why someone smiles, why someone changes their mind set.

You deserve a forever friend that will hold you up when you have lost the ability to stand, feed you tissues when the tears flow like the Shenandoah River, and celebrate with you when you have accomplished the impossible.

Stay strong. Be radiant. Inspire others. Remember to love unconditionally.

Peace, luv & friendship,

A Forever Friend