But I Smile Anyway…

“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.

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My Tootie Frooties 😍 @gizimann @gurmeet_402 @ballib9 @gurpreet.virdee #tootiefrootiesrule #friendship #sisterhood

A post shared by Ritu B (@phantom_giggler) on Mar 2, 2019 at 2:53pm PST

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?

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps  And enjoy your week! ❤