I’ve been extremely blessed in the family department. My family has tolerated all of me and supported me. We fight like any other family but somehow we always manage to piece back the pieces. We can’t go a week without meeting each other. I’m pretty lucky to have lucked out with a supportive and loving family.

But I never had the same luck with friends. First of all, I’m the sort of person who takes very long to be truly comfortable with people. Because of my bad experiences, I always find it difficult to trust people. You just never know what their intentions are and if they are even genuine. So unlike most people, I never had a large circle of friends. I have acquaintances, colleagues, and people who (I hope) know of my quiet existence. But I’m not a clique kind of person. I believe that cliques narrow people’s minds and perceptions sometimes. And I personally enjoy talking to a person one-to-one. I feel that is the only way you actually get to know them as a person and not just a face in the crowd.

So yesterday, I hosted a sort of dinner party with some close friends. I was afraid because these friends have never really crossed paths with each other. Each friend is different to me and I’m different with them. But I had nothing to worry about. We had so much fun talking about life, work and the stupid people we come across. It was pretty hilarious and at the end of the night, my heart was truly full. I couldn’t have been more blessed to have this group of friends who have stuck with me and showed nothing but love and kindness to me.

They accept me for who I am and there’s nothing more I could ask for. I l also love how my friends interact with my family. I was initially nervous because I have led relatively separate lives when it comes to these groups of people. Again, I had nothing to worry about. As a person who is extremely picky about who I spend my time with, it truly felt like my friends truly are the family I get to choose.

Thank you, Michelle, Tash, Felicia, Veena, and Nazzie (who couldn’t be there) for being unapologetically yourselves and truly genuine humans. Even though we don’t get to meet up often or constantly text each other every other day, I’m glad that when we meet up again, it’s like we never skipped a beat. Thanks for letting me feed you guys!

Thank you to all the people who I’ve had a chance to encounter because every person that walks into my life has taught me something.