Along for the Ride

Lately I've been doing some thinking about friendship and how it fits with my spirituality and lifestyle. The last few years, I have developed some fantastic friendships with some amazing people. A couple of weeks ago, we hosted an early Thanksgiving dinner, and I was listening in on the conversations of our guests. I was so impressed with the intelligence and wit of the people in the room. When my husband and I were recapping the evening the next day, we both commented about how nice it was to share an evening with people who could engage in civil conversations about politics and religion. I started thinking about my definition of friendship and evaluating the relationships I have in my life. I've never been one to have many friends, but the friends I do have are very close. For that reason, I would much rather have 1 or 2 friends with whom I can really connect than a whole group of people who barely know me. I was recently reminded of the value of boundaries, particularly w...

As we near the end of July 2010, I feel compelled to reflect over the past year. I realize that it seems a bit strange to reflect in July. After all, January is typically the month for reflection and resolutions. But for us, July holds an important meaning. In July of 2009, my husband was laid off from his job as a graphic designer. The recession we had heard about and seen shaking our community suddenly became very personal. We found ourselves "shocked and awed" by the economy and job market, and that experience has led us to a year of greater enlightenment, personal growth, and understanding about ourselves, our marriage, and our beliefs. I suppose I should back up and start by explaining a few things. My husband had been through layoffs before – several, in fact. Layoffs are part and parcel of working in the IT field, which he had done for years. He had always been able to find a new job quickly. His resume is impressive, and he has a very broad set of skills...