Grateful

I was having a discussion with a new friend the other day.  It was about the topic of friends, the need for good ones and the ever growing number of social media “friends”.  In the conversation, I told him about my three very close friends.

You know the ones you can call and not even say hi before you launch into the reason you  are calling.

The ones who know your life and world so well that you don’t have to give any back round information before telling them a new thing.

Yes! those friends.

And I am grateful for them.

Having a child with special needs can be so very isolating. While others are at the park with their children, you are in a therapy session. Or a birthday party is NOT fun for you because you are on pins and needles just waiting for your child to meltdown from the noise or activity.  My daughter Elizabeth has special needs, for those who do not know, she has global dyspraxia and sensory processing disorder (SPD).

So we did feel isolated.

And sometimes I guarded myself against a new friend for fear they would not or could not really understand.  In the early years, maybe I did not truly give those people a fair chance but it was probably because of my need to protect Elizabeth and if I am being truthful, myself too!

I did not want to see the sad looks or hear the pity in their voices when they talked.  Was it my issue? Maybe but it was where I was at the time.

But it was later on the journey that I

I learned to trust a bit.

Reach out a bit.

And let a new person in.

Because the feeling of isolation is real and having a trusted friend or two can make all the difference in the world.  I am grateful that I trusted these friends and I am grateful to have them in my world. I know how hard it is to trust, I have been hurt too, but I equally know how hard it is to feel alone.

I wrote this because I wish someone would have told me to do this early in our journey.  To let someone in a bit, then a bit more.  Maybe these are words that someone could use today, I hope so.

I don’t need to see that I have 1,000,000 friends on a social media site, because I do know I have my wonderful few!  And for them, I am grateful.

My wish for you is to find yours few as well.

I wish everyone a peaceful week.

Michele Gianetti author of “I Believe In You: A Mother and Daughter’s Special Journey” and “Emily’s Sister”