It was a great weekend connecting with family and friends who are like family, framily I call them. I was in NYC to see my sister acting in Shimmer and Herringbone*, by The Talking Band, her theater company. And I saw close friends perform music, one in the Broadway Hit, Illinoise *and another performing jazz at the New School of Music. It was wonderful – there is something extra special about framily that deserves attention.
Interestingly, both plays were about close friendships and the tugs at the heart that pull you in many directions with the relationships’ ups and downs over time. Here are some thoughts about this.
THE HEART CONNECTION IS REAL
We have energetic connection with many people, but the ones we celebrate the most are those we choose to be close and share the most. Recognize the unique, often random reasons for these connections and the clear intention to be friends. Even if fate brought you together, there are important reasons these bonds are deep.
THEY GET YOU
Finding people who appreciate and love you for you is a precious gift. Celebrating one another’s quirks of personality, unique gifts and life experiences is what makes a friendship flourish. Being known, seen and loved for all our differences is part of our human experience.
HONOR THE SHARED HISTORY
There are shared interests or experiences that create the initial connection, but as time goes by, this sharing becomes the fabric of your friendship and the stories of your life. Our close friends are a memory trace, they can tell your story, their perspective rounds out your experience.
SHARING THE JOYS AND SORROWS GIVES LIFE MEANING
It’s not just shared laughter and jokes that create friends who are like family, it’s seeing each other through the difficult moments as well. Being there for one another is part of what seals a relationship, feeling the joy and the pain of our friends. This heart connection is a constant vibrational interplay that carries us over time, giving structure and meaning to our lives.
Can you imagine how lonely your life would be without these friends? If you’d like to explore what this means to you, reach out.
*Shimmer and Herringbone, by The Talking Band: https://talkingband.org/about-talking-band/
Review: https://www.vulture.com/article/theater-reviews-shimmer-herringbone-redemption-story.html
*Illinoise – a stunning new musical on Broadway– https://illinoiseonstage.com/
