FRIENDSHIPS ARE UNDERRATED
"Yay! Girl's night out!"
"Can't wait to link up with my crew!"
"#SQUAD"
As outgoing as I may be, I have always considered myself to be kind of a loner. Most times, I prefer being in my own space, enjoying my own company, listening to trap music and imagining myself in hella dope situations that will literally NEVER happen. I mean, people are cool, but after a few hours, my battery starts to die and I get awkward. Which is why I've never been able to identify with any particular group.
I'll be honest, I'm very picky about the people who I call "friend". Therefore, it's hard for me to latch on to folks. Almost all of my friendships thus far, have been initiated by the other person. But once you got me, YOU GOT ME! I'm a good friend, okay? Somebody got you messed up?... Where they stay at? You ain't ate all day?... Come through for dinner! They about to cut your lights off?... I ain't got enough to help you pay for that, but I'll come drink the last of your gin with you in the dark.
Back in school, it was the popular kids vs. the nerds, the cheerleaders and the jocks, the trendy kids vs the regulars kids, and so on. I never felt like I belonged to any of those groups. As I got older and started traveling and moving to different cities, I came out of my shell more. I started to realize that it was okay for me to do things alone. Mainly, because I had to. It allowed me to meet folks from all walks of life.
As I made friends, who all had different backgrounds. I found myself being envious of one thing. Outside of our one on one friendship, they belonged to a "crew" of folks they called friends. Now, I don't mean that in a jealous way. I don't have locks of ya'll friend's hair. Hell, I ain't no witch or nothing like that.
I'm just saying, it's awesome to have a circle that you can lean on, because I've tried it all:
1. I can't rock with the "young black professionals" group because I'm still somewhat of a starving artist. When I say "starving" I mean, I got grocery money, rent money, Netflix account money but not Dubai, Cancun and South Africa money. Oh, and I change jobs like the weather and will take a good audition whenever I can get it, so, I never know my schedule. Why ya'll gotta be so secure in life?!
2. Then, on the other hand, I'm not on enough stages right now to hang with the performers. (See "Get off My Back" post)
3. I can't hang out with the hood folks because I don't have my conceal and carry license yet. And ya'll be having me in too many strange predicaments. I know. I've kicked it with ya'll.
Listen, I know the paragraphs in this post were chunkier than my thighs after a Sunday dinner, so I'm gonna let ya'll go. But, the moral of the story is, value those healthy relationships that you have. You gotta water them like a plant, nah. One sided friendships don't work either. Romantic relationships are great but, friendships are underrated. There's nothing like friends. I am still coming out of my shell and challenging myself to get dressed up and go to those events alone and meet new people until I can convince all of my friends to move to Chicago.
Now, go check on your homies for the one time. Ask them "Is you okay? Or is you alright?"
P.S. I hate the term "link up" can we throw that away? Please.
-BRIT