The Company We Keep

Reflection: The act of taking time to think deeply about your experiences, actions, or emotions.

With it being almost two months since I graduated high school and about a week until I head back to the U.S. for college, I’ve done a lot of reflecting. Not just over the past 4 years, but over my life in general and how far I’ve come.

In 18 years, I've lived in 10 houses in 8 different places. I've moved 9 times. I've attended 7 schools. But most importantly, I can reflect on all of the people that have made me the way I am.

I’ve had teachers push and encourage me-- sometimes giving up their planning periods to help-- when I didn't understand a concept. Coaches and directors helped to fuel my interests and passions, driving me towards things I never thought I would be capable of. And, there have been so many amazing people that I have gotten to know, and now have the pleasure of calling my friends. 

I started thinking about how, so often, we move through life without expressing this gratitude or appreciation for those people who made a difference in our lives. Of course, as military kids we say more goodbyes than most, but do we truly explain the meaning of these relationships to the people we say goodbye to before we leave? Even years later, do they understand the gravity of it?

As almost a graduation gift to myself, and to make sure these people understood how big of a role they play in my life, I wrote letters to the people who were most influential to my high school career. I highlighted their strengths, the way they shaped me, the lessons they taught me, and how I could not have achieved what I did without their support and belief in me. 

Some of these letters went to people I met at my family's current duty station within the past 3 years, but several are older than that and were the ones who got me through the toughest times I've lived through.

They are the ones who introduced me to my favorite hobbies and taught me what it meant to have a best friend who sticks with you through thick and thin. They didn't give up when keeping in contact with one another became difficult, and they didn't forget I was a part of their life. Their friendships have lasted through moves and graduations and continue to stay close to me, working to ensure our relationship stays this way.

As one chapter closes and another begins, I don’t want to forget these people or the impact they have had on my life. More importantly, I hope I can carry forward the same support, encouragement, and kindness they showed me and offer it to others along the way. 

The company we keep, both those we choose or gain unexpectedly,  can play a huge role in who we become. So, my challenge to anyone reading this: think of one person who helped you become who you are today, and tell them. Write the message. Make the call. Send the note. Gratitude is most meaningful when it is shared.