Hand and Foot

When I was in high school, I had 2 best friends, Charlotte and Colleen. We were almost inseparable, hanging out together, talking all the time, at each other’s houses constantly. We called ourselves the Three Musketeers. Everything was great until I attended college out of town, while Charlotte and Colleen went to the local junior college. They became closer friends while I lived in a different city making new friends.

The memory of having best friends stayed with me as I grew up, got married and raised our children. For years after high school I wanted that closeness, that support, that deep friendship with other females again. I wanted to hang out with women who really liked me, who wanted to be my good friends, who cared and supported me. I wanted mature relationships with loving ladies whom I could call on when I was sad, or needed someone to talk to.

Cultivating friendships is a form of self-love because it’s allowing people into your life who want to get to know you, care about you, support you. These are people you can count on no matter what happens; they are going to be there for you when times get tough. Self-love is sharing your love, gifts and talents with others and allowing them to share theirs with you.

Joyce and I first met at the church we both attended. One night while at her house drinking a cup of hot tea, a question formed in my mind. “Joyce, do you play cards?” She replied, “Yes. I grew up playing a game called Hand and Foot; it’s a form of Canasta.” Me, “I grew up playing canasta too! Why don’t we get together with other ladies and play Hand and Foot one night?”

Finding what you have in common with other people is how you cultivate friendships. It’s asking questions, getting to know their likes and dislikes, keeping in touch. It’s inviting them to do what you like to do and bringing them into your world. It’s sharing your love, gifts and talent while making them a part of your life.

That one question, “Do you play cards?” birthed a deep friendship between six women we nicknamed the Galavanting Gals. We not only play Hand and Foot on a regular basis but we travel together as well. We’ve been on weekend retreats and vacationed together in Rosemary’s Beach, FL, Copper Mountain, CO and soon will visit Charleston, SC. From all our many “adventures”, some were exciting, some scary, some heartbreaking. But through the years our friendships have remained intact. We’ve supported each other, laughed and cried, and shared our love with each other.

How about you, what’s one question you can ask to cultivate your friendships to a deeper level? It all starts with loving yourself, asking questions and sharing your love with others.

Hand and Foot anyone?

Hugs and Much Love,

Dawnie

©2019 Dawnie Dahir

Divine Master Mind™