Different, But Still so Similar

It's been nearly 10 years since we first met in California. What started out as just seeing each other once in a while at the ice rink turned into a friendship where we saw each other 6 days a week--encouraging and motivating each other through jump repetitions and new spin variations or coaching little ones how to skate on one foot. There were laughs, tears, sweat, food, and silly pictures involved. We had one thing in common, and that was figure skating. 

And yet, despite the high school graduations, cross-country moves, college, vet school, marriage, and time zones, we have still stayed friends. It was the day-in-day-out bonding we had at the ice rink back in 2005-2008 that helped us get to know each other on a deep level that could withstand life's changes. 

Even now, nearly a decade after moving apart, we still text, send handwritten letters, and talk on the phone occasionally. 

We aren't sole mates. We might have different religious perspectives and beliefs. But we still have so much in common. And it's that commonality that helps us understand each other and stay friends. 

I received a letter in the mail earlier this week from her, which read in part,: 

"Although our lives are so very different, I think it's interesting to note the common themes between us...we are both recovering from eating disorders and learning to love our bodies as they continue to change shape. We're both on a journey to find a physical activity that resounds within us as much as ice skating did, despite all its faults. We're both coming to terms with realizing our lives aren't exactly what we imagined they would be just a few years ago, but that they're turning out to be quite the adventure! We're both finding a lot of joy serving in our communities and helping those around us, although we don't plan to make careers out of our service. We're both learning more about ourselves and our values as we continue to practice our faith."--January 13, 2016

 Friendships that can last despite differences are so fulfilling. Through this particular friendship I have learned that I am loved because of who I am, not because I conformed to something I thought I should be. Friendships with people of different beliefs foster so much love and care because they take effort and work. It would have been simple enough to lose touch of each other over these past years because our lives have both gone in so many opposite ways. But we still kept in touch, and I believe we have both become stronger individuals as we support one another in our ups and downs.

Thank you for your friendship Marie. Thank you for the many wonderful laughs and a listening ear back in high school as well as now.

I hope we can all cherish our friends, no matter how different we may seem. For in the end, we really are so similar.