Happiness is...

... finding a friend you thought long lost and realizing that, not only does the friendship pick up where it left off, it has easily grown into an amazing relationship built on trust, honesty, and even love. I've had a rough go of things of late. Health-wise things have been verging on the edge of dismal and emotionally I've been a wreck - to the point that I'm back in therapy (official current diagnosis - Complex PTSD). It's been hard but I'm pushing through - thanks, especially, to my long lost friend, who completely understands me and gets me like no one else ever really has. It's amazing to have that kind of relationship with someone and not have to worry, really, about offending them, and if you somehow do, you know you can explain it and they'll get it and any hurt feelings dissipate instantly. *warmsigh* One of the best things about this friendship is that we can talk to each other musically. Meaning, we can often use lyrics to help us express ourselves, entire songs, etc. Music carries with it such strong emotional content - be it anger, love, passiveness, etc. - and we can communicate that way and it helps us to truly understand where the other is coming from on an even deeper level. I have to say, it's one of the most amazing things I've ever experienced in a friendship. And what's even more amazing is the fact that this music is being drawn from nearly every genre (though, thankfully, I don't believe we've crossed into the realm of country music LOL). What's even better is that, for as much as he has helped me these last couple of months, he believes I have helped him, in turn. That makes me feel like maybe I'm not such a failure after all. That maybe I can do some things right. Something I've been struggling with lately. Now, don't get me wrong, this doesn't mean that all of my other friendships are "chopped liver..." I adore my friends, especially my besties Christy, Traci, Skya, and Lisa... but sometimes there's just something different about a male best friend... someone who is going through what I'm going through in a way, and can understand and see me from something other than the female point of view... To my old (and yet new, in a way) friend, I say: Thank you. Thank you for sharing *you* with me. Thank you for being a part of my life again. Thank you for loving me despite all of my flaws. Thank you for showing me that it's okay to love through adversity. Thank you for being you. Thank you for letting me be me, without my "game face." Thank you for everything.

Originally posted at Falling Into My Own Sarchasm and cross-posted here.