Friends… Just the word conjures up images of Phoebe, Monica,
Rachel, Ross, Joey and Chandler hanging out at Central Perk, especially if you
followed the series as closely as most of my generation did. But a second, more
intimate look at the term will definitely bring to mind all the people that
matter to you; all the people you can just be yourself with; all the people who make you laugh, cry,
scream and shout; all the people who love you no matter what. Someone wise once
said, friends are the family you get to choose for yourself. Amen to that
brother! I mean, where and what would we be without them? I know for a fact
that my life would be drab, droll, dull and everything in between if it weren’t
for the friends in it. Thankfully I’ve been more than just abundantly blessed in
the friends’ department and it is from all of them that I learn new things and
ways; it is from them that I am able to better myself and surge forward come
what may; and it is from them that I draw courage, inspiration, love, support,
guidance and joy. Now while I can’t list every friend I have and specify what
they’ve done for me or how much they mean to me, I can point out the ones that
amaze me from time to time.
The most recent person in point is my bestie Shradha who
lives and works in Mumbai. She became a part of the hospitality industry almost
as soon as she graduated from college and has worked diligently and whole
heartedly from the word go. So it’s no wonder then that she has made her way up
the corporate ladder, on her own merit, going from strength to strength. Now I
honestly thought I couldn’t be more proud of her! But that was until ten days
ago when we met in Mumbai and she told me of her plans to quit the corporate
life. I almost fell off my chair when she broke the news and it took me a few minutes
to get over what I’d just heard. But as she began to explain what she was
thinking and planning I was left in complete and total amazement. Now I can’t
give away what she has in mind because that’s her story to tell, not mine. But
I will say this – her plans will bring back a sense of community and harmony to
those that get involved, even if only in the slightest bit, and I do believe
that it will have a ripple effect, touching the lives of many in the long run.
Then there is Leanne – a wife, mother, daughter,
businesswoman and entrepreneur who seems to have 48 hours in her day as opposed
to our 24 with all that she accomplishes! From what I know, a lot of people
questioned her decision to give up the corporate life in London and move to Goa
because they believed she had it all there. But I am ever so glad she did,
because not only am I thankful for the friendship we share but I am extremely
grateful for the inspiration she provides. Over the last few months, we faced a
lot of adversity as a group but Leanne was the one who stood strong through it
all whilst so many of us crumbled; she took charge of multiple situations and
made sure things got done even though she had a ton of other things to do; she
provided solace to so many despite her own grief and pain. I will never know
how she does it or how she continues to do it but I’m awe!
Now just like the two of them, there are others that
continue to astound and enthuse me. But to name them all would take an entire
lifetime. So to these lovely ladies and all the rest of my friends, all I can
say is, thank you. Thank you for rescuing me when I needed to be rescued; thank
you for providing hope and inspiration when I felt the dearth of both; thank
you for taking those leaps of faith and proving to me that things will work out
if we only just believe; thank you for being my real life super heroes; thank
you for being my super friends!
