To Each and Every One of You,

You have changed my life in one way or another. I will admit that sometimes I wish the changes did not have to happen, especially when the changes bring about sadness or hurt. I see, however, that these changes were necessary for me and hopefully for you.

However you choose to phrase it, we are all on individual journeys; journeys that bring people from all walks of life, in all seasons of life in our path. If I were to look back over the past 10, 15, 20 years, there is an amazing amount of people who have, for one reason or another, intersected my journey. Some of us shared moments for mere minutes, others days, weeks, months, and even years. Then at some point, many of us have watched as our paths have diverted again.

Dare I admit that some of us have disagreed, even fought? Of course, there is nothing wrong with acknowledging that. Others of us have agreed cordially, agreed to disagree, or ‘high-fived’ at an idea that made us grow in our bond. Some of us found ourselves growing in our connection of similar hurts or disappointments, joys and accomplishments, or just over the fact that SOMEONE understood us in our strangest of moments.

Some of us, while together, felt like we had found our best friend, but with the lapse of time forgot to call, write, or check in. Some friendships have faded to mere memory of better times, while others have lasted the test and we can pick up right where we left off. And some of our relationships have been put to rest, so to speak, because it was their time to simply die.

Let me say this with truth and honesty, I am thankful for each one of you along the way. Admittedly, in the moment there were times I did not understand or want to know why we crossed paths. There were moments in my stubbornness that I was “right” and you were “wrong” and I would not shift on my opinion. Along with the joy and happiness came the opposites which I often tried to rationalize with my mind’s arguments and conversations that would never happen. Yet, today I realize that each and every one of you were important. Each of you have challenged me, changed me, pushed me, nurtured me, helped me…. I am not the same person of 10 years ago, and I don’t believe I’ll be the same person in 10 years from now.

You see, while the essence of who I am will (hopefully) stay strong, I need to keep growing, changing, shifting, adapting…. And I cannot do that on my own. Instead I need people who will willingly, and unwillingly, cross my path to bring about these changes. I need those people who will cause me to rethink this, that, and something else to rid myself of the uglier things, but also to cement the things that should be absolutes in my life. I need each of you, friends of permanent status or temporary, to push me from being stagnant to being a person of substance and growth.

So to each of you along the way, thank you for the time we have shared. Thank you for pushing back, for pulling alongside, for passing by. In my finite wisdom and understanding, I see how important you are to me now and will continue to be.

Love and care,

• J xo