“A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself.” – Jim Morrison
Oh, I do love it, Spidey, when you give me something to think upon, something that is totally relevant to life right now!
Friends are the family you choose for yourself.
There are so many types of friendships; the acquaintances, the ‘specific times of your life’ friends, the work friends, the kids’ parents friends, and the real friends.
You do indeed get to a time in your life when you find that, though you can surround yourself with people on a daily basis, there are only a few people, possibly as many as you have fingers on your hand, that are your real friends.
All through school, I had plenty of mates, friends who knew what school was like and we could grumble together, fawn over music and crushes together, that sort of thing. But I don’t think I ever really forged a true, strong friendship with anyone. Because no one at my school saw the full, real me. They saw the quiet Indian girl who was a bit quirky and fun, but not the Ritu who was the loud one at home and in family functions. The Ritu who embraced her Eastern roots and culture as much as she loved her adopted Western roots too.
That Ritu, and the one you all know today, really found those friendships after starting university. There, I learned more about myself, and became more confident being me. And there is one person, the Buzz to my Woody, who carried me through a whole loads of ups and downs over the last nearly 30 years… My beautiful best friend.
We don’t live close. We speak less than we ought to, but we have a connection that is always open. She knows me better than almost anyone.
And, I feel blessed to have at least one other person who I feel like that about too.
You hear me talking about my special group of girls, my Tootie Frooties, here in my marital hometown. We try and meet up regularly, to have a catch-up, a chat, a drink and a laugh, and they are all so special to me.
But there is one who is another soul sister to me. Since we had children, well more since Lil Man was 4, we have connected, and she has been another one who I have been able to rely upon for support, laughs and general sisterhood.
Of course, I have so many blog friends who I count upon as true friends, those who I look forward to meeting yearly, and have personal contact with regularly, outside of blogland too! There are some of you who I have contacted for support as well as laughs, and I know some of you will email or message me for that same support, which I gladly give ❤
I count myself very lucky to have these folks in my life, and I want to thank each and every one of you for letting me be ‘me’ with you ❤
So… tell me, who do you count as your true, ‘be myself’ friends?
Book Club Mom
Mar 04, 2019 @ 02:24:02
What a great post, Ritu. You are lucky to have so many true friends. I know that feeling too and even the friends I don’t see much or talk to often, I know they are there for me. Here’s to friendship!
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Ritu
Mar 04, 2019 @ 06:49:54
Here’s to friendship indeed 🥂
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thereluctantpoet
Mar 04, 2019 @ 01:05:17
Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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Invisibly Me
Mar 03, 2019 @ 22:50:50
Aww this is so sweet, good friends really should be cherished. Thank you for sharing a bit more about your closest, dearest friends, I love that you said your best friend is “the Buzz to your Woody”, that made me chuckle! 🙂
xx
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Ritu
Mar 04, 2019 @ 06:50:51
We have been together so long. And Toy Story came out at the beginning of our friendship ❤️
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syl65
Mar 03, 2019 @ 17:12:51
I have met some wonderful people throughout life. Cherish the true friendships 💜
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Ritu
Mar 03, 2019 @ 17:18:37
Important to treasure them Brother ❤️
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syl65
Mar 03, 2019 @ 17:29:58
Yes, always Sister ❤️
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johnrieber
Mar 03, 2019 @ 15:55:24
When you mention not getting together or talking as much as you’d like, that is also the sign of a true friendship: one that doesn’t need constant watering and attention in order to grow over the years…we have enough distractions in our everyday work and personal life, shaving someone who you can always reach out to and re-connect is a great thing…
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Ritu
Mar 03, 2019 @ 15:59:13
Indeed the sign of a true friendship, not a needy one 💜
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Rachael Stray | https://rachaelstray.com/
Mar 03, 2019 @ 15:01:02
I think as you get older and have a family work and other commitments your time spent with friends is not as often a small you’d like but it’s more precious. I used to have lots of friends but now I have a few very close friends who I don’t see all the time but I know they are there for me and when we do get together it’s like no time has passed at all. True real friendship.
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Ritu
Mar 03, 2019 @ 15:08:05
That really is true friendship ❤️
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Rebecca Moon Ruark
Mar 03, 2019 @ 13:13:00
Lovely, Ritu. Thank you for giving me such happy thoughts to ponder today! My bestie is another Rebecca (there are so many of us!). We danced together and were roommates–she was 16 and I 19–and have been through it all since. My mom’s death, both our marriages, kids, etc. And she doesn’t let me get away with a thing! Real and true friends. And then there’s lovely blog friends–including you! So glad we’ve connected over these interwebs. I always enjoy your posts, even if I don’t always get to respond.
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Ritu
Mar 03, 2019 @ 14:36:11
Aw you are so sweet Rebecca!
Its so wonderful to know you have that person who has your back no matter what 💜
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Erika Kind
Mar 03, 2019 @ 12:46:01
Sisters by choice! Soul mates of the lovely kind. We must never forget the value they bring into our lives and the gift they are!
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Ritu
Mar 03, 2019 @ 12:47:47
🤗😍 My original blog sis 💜
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Erika Kind
Mar 03, 2019 @ 13:01:00
🤗👭🤗 Sisters since we met. I am very thankful 😘
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Ritu
Mar 03, 2019 @ 13:05:27
Me too sis 💜
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Erika Kind
Mar 03, 2019 @ 13:32:54
💖
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Elisabet
Mar 03, 2019 @ 12:06:38
Thanks for the reminder, great post😊
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Ritu
Mar 03, 2019 @ 12:11:02
Thanks Elizabet. Have a great week!
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Elisabet
Mar 03, 2019 @ 12:25:38
Likewise 😊
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OIKOS™-Publishing
Mar 03, 2019 @ 07:52:11
You are blessed, having so lovely friends, Sis! For myself i agree to Robbie. Have a nice Sunday! Michael
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Ritu
Mar 03, 2019 @ 08:48:37
Thank you Bro. Blog pals are as important 😍
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OIKOS™-Publishing
Mar 03, 2019 @ 14:08:22
So true, Sis! 😍
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robbiesinspiration
Mar 03, 2019 @ 07:28:29
You have lovely friends, Ritu. I don’t have any friend like that. Maybe because we moved around so much when I was a child or maybe because I did correspondence university and worked so there wasn’t much time or maybe because, I am at heart, a loner who never looked for this.
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Ritu
Mar 03, 2019 @ 08:48:06
Oh Robbie, I hope you count on me and your blog pals as friends 😘
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willowdot21
Mar 03, 2019 @ 07:28:19
You are someone I count among my true friends. I believe we have the friends we deserve. I think when it boils down to it I have three people I could go to for help if I was in a fix.
We have life friends and acquaintances. True friends are like gold dust treat them well.
I also have made lovely friends in blogland . 🌹🌹❤️💜
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Ritu
Mar 03, 2019 @ 08:47:33
Love you sis 💜💜💜
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willowdot21
Mar 03, 2019 @ 09:00:41
Me, you too🌹
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joey
Mar 03, 2019 @ 06:41:26
Essentially a lifetime of friendship. What a wonderful blessing.
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Ritu
Mar 03, 2019 @ 06:49:32
Truly 🙏🏼💜
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