Well, it’s official. I’m back in the States!
As my adventures back home are just beginning, a lot has been uncertain. Mostly, what my future holds – where I plan on living, how long I’m still going to travel around, etc. But one thing is for certain — when I was away, I really really missed my friends.
My closest friends are scattered throughout the U.S., and we don’t see each other often. Melissa lives in Chicago, Nikki lives in Richmond, and Elizabeth and Vanessa live in Wilmington (just for some perspective).
Before being separated by the Atlantic, I can honestly say I took phone calls, emails and brunches for granted. On long drives home from work or lazy Sunday afternoons, we’d call or text each other, with various updates about our lives. At times, calls were rushed, conversations hurried, lunches and dinners cut short.
Since I’ve come back, those conversations are what I’ve enjoyed most. The past few days have been chock-full of catching up with some of my closest friends. The realization of how much these people mean to me, and how they continue to contribute to my fullest self, really hit me this morning, during a trip to Target.
My primary motivation of my Target trip was getting an iced tea from Starbucks. I haven’t had a decent iced tea in three months. As the Barista made my drink, I awkwardly paced around the counter. I nearly grabbed it out of her hand and dove face first into that green straw – my signature Venti Black Iced Tea with half the sweetener was just as amazing as I remembered.
Once that was done, I moved onto my favorite aisle – books. So while I was walking through the aisle, making mental notes to download Elizabeth Smart’s memoir and Elizabeth Gilbert’s new book, I scanned Facebook. As it would be, Elizabeth Gilbert popped up in my newsfeed:
I smiled at the coincidence, and moved on to other titles. This morning, I wasn’t focused on my best self or advice from Elizabeth Gilbert –I just focused on iced tea and shopping. However, the universe seemed to have a message for me, which came to me during a phone call from Melissa.
I was delighted to get her call – I haven’t spoken to her since I left Europe. We talked for at least an hour about my trip and her upcoming adventures. I was immediately reminded on the positive impact Melissa has on my life – she’s a girl of my own heart, always looking to improve herself. She adds tremendous value to my life, and I’m constantly inspired by her. I felt great when we hung up.
I was thinking about that when I noticed she was calling again – strange, since she was on her way to lunch.
“Hello?” I answered, a bit confused, expecting a pocket dial.
“Hey!” She said cheerfully, “I forgot to tell you something!”
I eagerly and also, was a bit amazed at what she said.
“This has been such a big year for you,” she said. “Last year was a big year for me – I made a word for it. My word for it was ‘calmtheeffdown…even though that’s more than one word.”
She was referring to (and she confirmed this), the part of Eat, Pray, Love when Elizabeth Gilbert talks about people having words. Gilbert’s word was “Antevasin”, or “One who lives on the border”. Melissa challenged me to think of my own word.
I knew my word before it escaped my lips, a simple phrase that I said again and again during my time in Rome and Pisa.
“Finito,” I said confidently. “That’s definitely my word.”
I had thought little about it in Italy – the word “finito”. It means finished. After polishing off a plate of pasta or a caprese salad, I’d say – “Abbiamo finito!” to our waiter – meaning, “we’re finished”. It was one of the phrases from the Italian I took in college that I didn’t forget.
I’ve completed, finished so much in the past year. Sometimes, it’s easy to lose sight of that. I’m always looking towards the next goal, the next objective, and it causes me to celebrate what I have done. (Ironic, because when I double checked the translation for this blog post, I discovered “finito” can also mean accomplished.)
That one little word, and Melissa’s ability to inspire me, got me thinking. It reminded me of the positive impact that people like Melissa, Nikki, Elizabeth and Vanessa have on me. How special they are, how much value they bring to my life. It made me so grateful to know them.
That’s when I realized – I wouldn’t have accomplished any of this if it wasn’t for people like them. Through my toughest days, Melissa inspired me, Nikki made me stronger, Elizabeth and Vanessa kept me creative, grounded and happy. I went on the journey, I spent nights at the various hostels, explored strange cities, and struggled with foreign languages, but they were with me every step of the way.
If I hadn’t had their support, I’m not sure I would have taken this trip. And the most amazing thing is that I know so many incredible people just like them. People who have provided me with endless support and encouragement.
The long journey to success, self-empowerment, and enlightenment, isn’t one you take alone. It’s a path that’s crowded with family, friends, and loved ones who support you. People who make you feel like you could take on anything – even a three month long trip to Europe.
I’m at a loss on how to finish this post, but I just wanted to share my gratitude. Just like it’s easy to forget things we’ve accomplished, it’s also easy to forget the people who helped get us there. I hope this post will inspire my readers to reach out and thank those who have done the same for them.