March: The Soft Parts of our Hearts

We all have people that sit in the soft parts of our hearts. We look forward to seeing them regardless of how much or little time has passed; we think of them when we see something beautiful in nature, eat a delicious sandwich, or listen to music they love; we cheer for them from the sidelines of their life even if they don’t know it.

March was filled with those people.  

Early in March, I was meant to visit a friend in Arizona. When she called a few days out from my departure flight letting me know she had the flu, Bryan helped me quickly pivot the weekend into a solo backpacking trip in the Superstition Mountains. As the sun set in Charlebois canyon and the stars came out, the first identifiable constellation appeared - Orion’s Belt - and that familiar calm and steadiness of having a friend nearby, even if just in spirit, settled me in for my first-ever solo camp. (Orion’s Belt is her favorite and I have heard her say the same phrase about it every time we have been together and she’s seen it since we were freshmen in college. I absolutely said those words aloud to myself at camp.)

Mid-March brought a girls trip to Vail to share in a cherished pastime of a ski day with lunch on a slopeside deck on a favorite ski hill where so many hours have been spent and personal memories created. I originally went into this particular challenge with an expectation of an outcome but what came out was immensely more meaningful than I ever could have imagined: being a bystander to some of Bryan and my dearest friends pour out love for Maddie and envelope into their family’s collective - sharing lunch, laughing with her, building snow men alongside her skiing confidence. I got to watch our children continue to solidify their friendship.  

My final March challenge was to make art with a friend who is one of the most phenomenal artists I know. We went to a local wall to spray some graffiti (a first for me!) and he brought his family. I have spent many hours on road trips with this friend - sharing hip hop artists a full volume, but his family is newer to me. I am so immensely proud of the person he has become since our college days, the life he’s made for himself, the love he’s found. 

Aging into the “fall of youth” is a funny thing. There’s the lingering taste of your 20s and 30s, the freedom, adventure, effervescence. Memories of carefree time with friends. And, there’s an easing into this new season, it feels deeper. I get to bear witness to the early fruits of self-work, the smoothing of sharp edges from life’s hardships, the channeling of passions and energy into focus. And, for friends who I’ve known since high school and college, I get to see that you are not just YOU any more. You are connected to partners and children and animals. And I get the distinct pleasure to fill my heart with them too.

The intent behind my ask of you all to submit challenges that meant something to you was to connect with you all - whether in person or in spirit. The result has been such a joy (core memories all over the place!). 

I don’t reach out to any of you nearly enough when you come into my mind, be it from walking by an old haunt, or listening to a song, smelling a campfire, or seeing an old photo. Believe me when I say it here: I’m truly, truly honored that you all have opened up your hearts to share with me over the years and throughout these challenges.