The Best Gift of All

Tonight I met my long time best friend for dinner. She flew home from San Francisco for the Holidays. We see each other on average about twice a year, and pick up right where we left off. After more than 20 years of friendship, we can read each other inside out and backwards. We have seen it all, lived through it all and even when our paths have travelled great lengths apart, we always end up together.

Tonight at dinner she slipped an envelope across the table, and wished me a Merry Christmas. We stopped doing big gifts years ago as we have lived in different cities, and in most years different countries for the past 12 years.  I opened the envelope, and knew without reading it was something VERY big... in it was an official job announcement. She had already moved home 4 days ago and kept the whole thing under wraps from everyone, including me. She couldn't wait to surprise me. I am still stunned. It is a dream come true. We have always laughed and joked about the day we would live in the same city.  Moment after moment we shared our plans for the year, all the things we ever dreamed of doing together but had not yet had the chance. I could barely digest the news.

Sitting back a few hours after receiving what might simply be the best gift a girl could ask for, I can only smile. Something's never change. The things that matter most cannot be bought. They are the people, the moments, the memories. My best friend and I have transformed, and now come back together. We are both successful in our careers and personal lives, and still single. We have never felt alone though although at one point we lived as far apart as Canada and Costa Rica.

With the holidays approaching, I  continue hearing from single's alike how much they struggle to get through the holidays. I get it... I have skipped Christmas Dinners, and cried on New Years Eve. I have also realized that those were wasted moments, as my life has always been filled with the things that mattered. I've just gotten so narrowly focused at time's on the things I wanted to focus on and lost sight of the things I needed and the things that mattered. Welcome the love from the people around you. There is so much love, so many people who would give their world to make yours happy. Don't miss the gifts that are right in front of you, those are the most precious, freely given, and valuable gifts in life.

I am so grateful, happy and certain that life is coming together, and so far it has far exceeded anything I had ever planned or imagined! Embrace the magic of the season!