Kindred Spirits

I love Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea..two of my favorite movies. I always loved the friendship that blossomed between Anne and Diana. Kindred Spirits are individuals who are of a similar nature or character.

Making friends is not always easy for me. Not that I don't want friends, I like to be social and like having friends. There are times when I go to church and feel like hyperventilating when I realize that I will have to be social with the other ladies. Now I don't think myself above the ladies at church (more the opposite). I can relate to others who find it difficult to infuse themselves into existing clans/groups/cliques (whatever your preferred label). I feel like the members of these parties don't "get" me. Perhaps it is insecurities that have remained from when I was growing up, or my personality is just a bit to weird for them, I don't know...but it doesn't change my love for the gospel or church. It just means I have to work a little more...

But oh how wonderful it is when you find such a Kindred Spirit! It's so wonderful to have a friend that as the definition states who are of similar nature or character. Kindred Spirits can show up any where. I have been blessed to find a couple Kindred Spirits at work. They crack me up, make me smile, and doggone it just make me all around happy to know them. I read a recent post about Friends by Justine at Segullah (posted below) that hit the nail on the head about friends. Enjoy....

Friends by Justine

I’ve never been any good at making friends. I remember after moving to northern Michigan in 1975, my mother prodded me out of the house to “go find someone to play with!” I walked up and down the street, knocking on doors, asking the question, “Do you have any kids here? Do they want any new friends?”

So with that stellar public relations stint kicking off my search, my life finding friends has been long and arduous. We moved all the time growing up, so you’d think I would have had plenty of practice finding new people to play with. In truth, it just seemed to get worse and worse.

In college, I was so obnoxious, I can count on one finger the close friends I had.

Now, as a full-fledged middle aged adult, I’m still looking for someone to play with. I’ve somehow managed to maneuver my way into some really great friendships, but they always — always, I say — end with one of us moving. I’m still in mourning over some of those losses.

I moved so much as a kid, and all the people all around me now are still coming and going, I’m just waiting for everyone to be done shuffling around so I can settle in. When is that going to happen!?

I too often find High School hierarchy still alive and well in my little world. I still reel at the politics of friendships and the maneuvering and positioning that goes on in girl tribes.

I’ve always been terrible at navigating that world. And my friends keep moving away from me (hopefully not on purpose). What’s a girl to do?

The problem with this problem is, of course, that women need women! We need these relationships. We cling to each other for support and comfort. My husband would be happy with any random person off the street to play basketball with once in a while. I, however, develop and feed, nurture and finesse, fret and tend. I cull through the women in my life, looking for commonality and connection. I primp and preen to fit in.

I’m just so vain!

But I need it. I need you in my life. I reach out holding all my stress and pain and hurt and hopes and happiness in my hands, hoping against hope that someone will grab on to my hands and help me hold them up.

My girlfriends. I might be too strange to attract very many, but I’m holding tight to the few I’ve got. And I love you.