Walt Whitman had it right when we said it: “I no doubt deserve my enemies, but I do not believe I deserve my friends.”

I remember exactly where I was sitting when we met them; legs crossed, shifting back and forth insecurely in my seat, I took Melissa’s hand and shook it. She dove head first into conversation with me; talking about everything under the sun – dreams that she had, people she loved – like she was just so excited to share with me that she couldn’t keep it in. I felt out of place; crossing my arms tightly, creating an invisible wall. I wasn’t used to this much honesty in one conversation. It was a lot. But, the more she talked – the more people she introduced me to – the more this beautiful feeling washed over me: we aren’t the only ones – there are more of us out there. The dreamers, the black sheep, the crazy ones… there are other people who choose to live life by their own rules. And we had found them. It was like we had been searching for friendships like these our entire lives, but we just didn’t know it until we met them. People who would challenge us, lovingly, to keep breaking rules, keep being different, keep taking risks – even if it means failure – because they would be there to help us up.

 Last week we took a trip with these same brilliant, foolish, inspiring people. It was five days in the mountains full of laughter, tears, conversations that mattered and card games that would make your mama blush. As we drove away I remember Graham squeezing my hand. “I miss them already” he said.

When life gets heavy, as it all-to-often does, it helps to have people who will help you carry the load. And we are lucky enough to have a tribe of friends who not only share the burden, but who will pick us up and carry us right along when we need it, too. Life is lighter, and a lot more beautiful, with friends like these.