What friendships while growing up did you value then and now? Write about a childhood friend that positively influenced who you are today.
Week of Grace is a 7-day journaling project, scientifically designed to you make you happier, healthier, and more productive. For 7 days, please join in and answer to the gratitude question posted! To get the full benefits, you should write out your response rather just think about it. Like the featured guests, you may comment here, or you can tweet #weekofgrace, email a friend, or even write out your response longhand.
Week of Grace for April 2010 starts Saturday the 24th and ends Friday the 30th.
Look for Featured Guests in the comments this Month:
- Mike Deibler, MS, CSCS: San Diego Premier Training, My Workout Creator
- Dr. Pia Martin, DC, CCN: North Coast Wellness Center
- Jill Thomas, CCHT: Healthy Habits Hypnosis
- My client: Kris
- My sister: Cherry
6 responses to “Week of Grace: Childhood Friend”
Probably the most influential childhood friend I had was my best friend Richard who now, years later is my boyfriend. He is truely the finest person I have ever known and his calm way of handling issues taught me you dont have to fight for what you want, you can just ask for it.
This is such a fun question! I know that I have several childhood friends that have taught me lessons that have shaped who I am today. The one that sticks out is my best friend in grammar school, Mary Kay Zinkl ! Mary Kay was the youngest of 13 kids (a product of good little Catholic parents). They all lived in a very small home — only 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. The whole house might have been 1600 sq feet! Mary Kay and her 4 sisters shared one tiny bedroom. Mary was always getting hand-me-downs…and yet most days, she didn’t seem to mind. Everyone had tasks they were expected to do, and it meant their household was run like a well oiled machine. The thing that struck me the most, was that their home was always filled with love. I loved getting invited to spend the night (always on a Saturday)…it meant sleeping on the floor of the living room and going to 7am mass with the family Sunday morning. But after Mass, the family would come back to the house and have breakfast together. There was plenty for everyone — and it was like a scene right out of the Waltons! I guess I truly learned that you don’t need things to be happy — the key is to be happy with the things you have!
I have been so blessed by the friendships I’ve I had throughout the years. One of my favorite people in the world is Asuka. We met in the 8th grade when her family moved to my neighborhood, and 20+ years later, we’re still the closest of friends. Asuka and I have shared so much with each other over the years, but more than anything, Asuka has always given me her undying support and the confidence that I could do anything I set my mind to. On those days when I felt like I just couldn’t do anything right, she was always there to pick me up, make me laugh and help me believe in myself again. For that, I will always be grateful.
I value my good friend Graeme. He is a male version of myself. He Gets me, and he his honest and caring. Even though Graeme lives in Australia and has two little kids with a third on the way he takes the time to be there for all the moments in my life. I love you grayboy!
It is hard to pick just one childhood friend that I appreciate and that has influenced me today. I think I had a very diverse group of friends growing up. Just like in business it is important to surround yourself with positive people and those that excel in areas that you don’t. Growing up I was pretty shy and quiet but I had aloud of loud personalities around me. It helped me understand how to be more outgoing and more of a risk taker. If I did not have those friends growing up I probably would not have had the opportunity to own my own business.
My best friend in 4th grade taught me the word “tintinnabulation” and told me stories whenever I asked, which was all the time. To this day, I love big words and a well-told story. I’m sure my verbal abilities increased just because I had to keep up with her, and I know she was a huge influence on my current writing and speaking skills. I did not fully appreciate then how brilliant she was, and that her parents were kind, intelligent, loving people who loved me as well… but I know it now.