This year started off rough. And I don’t mean the kind of rough where you catch a cold or deal with a bad day. I mean the kind of rough that hits you like a punch to the gut—heart surgery one month, and then, out of nowhere, a thyroid cancer diagnosis the next. It all felt so sudden, so overwhelming, and for a while, I was down on myself. I tried my best not to let anyone see it. I’m a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend—I have so many people counting on me. So, I chose to be strong for them. I know I didn’t have to, but I wanted to.
The truth is, I wasn’t strong for myself. When the house was quiet, when no one else was around, I cried. A lot. I was scared—terrified, even. Every day felt like a battle I had to face alone.
What got me through those dark days? My two best friends. They were my lifeline. Even though I know they were scared and worried too, they lifted me up when I felt like I couldn’t stand. I didn’t have to hide anything from them. With them, I could cry, scream, question my faith, and whisper the dreaded words, “why me?” They were there with gentle reminders that I would be okay, even when I didn’t believe it myself. And they’ve been there every single time I’ve needed them, just like I’ve been there for them.
That’s the beauty of true friendship. Not the surface-level, “get more likes on Instagram” kind of friendship—but the real, raw, soul-deep kind. The kind that shows up during the darkest, scariest moments and celebrates the brightest, happiest ones. We’ve been there for each other through cancer diagnoses, relationship struggles, new babies, job promotions—you name it. Through every twist and turn, we’ve been each other’s constants.
We care about each other. Plain and simple. And we care about each other’s kids too. I love their children like they’re my own, and I know they feel the same about mine. Our kids are growing up surrounded by three strong women they can always look up to, learn from, and rely on. We’re raising our tribes together.
We show up for each other. We pray for each other. We talk every single day. We call each other out when one of us is being overly dramatic, and we remind each other how strong we truly are. And when one of us can’t be strong for herself, the other two are there to hold the weight. Always.
I know without a doubt that I could ask either of them for anything—and they know the same is true for them. We celebrate each other’s victories and hold each other through life’s hardest moments. Life is unpredictable and chaotic, but one thing is constant: we will always be there for one another. We will always care. We will always show up. We will always be each other’s anchor in this ever-changing world.
That’s what true friendship is. And that’s what my friends have been for me—my unwavering, unshakable, lifeline.
