What do you see when you see me?

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea

I (Nadine) was interviewed by a magazine this past week and asked a question I don’t think I’ve ever been asked before. What was I like in my childhood? I had never been asked this question before so I forwarded it on to the experts – my two best friends from childhood.

What spontaneously happened next was a flurry of emails between the three of us outlining how we would answer that question for each other. It started out with lists describing our personalities when we were growing up, but it quickly morphed into things that we appreciate about each other today. The list of attributes of each one of us that we noted in these emails made us laugh, cry and laugh again. I can’t recall a time when I’ve genuinely shared what I value about my friends in such detail or in writing. The lists are too long to share them all, so I have shared what I wrote about my two buddies.

N to C:ck sue and me
Smarter than anyone really should be
Makes me belly laugh
Fashionable
Great at tennis without ever being braggy
Can analyze any problem from all angles
Remembers EVERYTHING!! Even the stuff we all wish she’d forget!!
Appreciates the small things
Writes touching letters packed with deep meaning
Imaginative
Have friend’s back – always
So freaking funny!!!
Loves her friends
We love her too!
Changes to world too just in ways that we can’t understand
Soooo smart
Caring and always there for those in need
Lifelong friend

N to S:
Always cares about others
Super in tuned to when people aren’t ok even when they say they are
That laugh!!
That snort!
Then more of the laugh!!
Fearless
Makes some crazy good peanut brittle
Loyal to friends always
Sees good in everyone
Opens home to anyone anytime (in childhood and now)
Honest
Adventurous
Lifelong friend
Looks after the underdog

During the week of Thanksgiving when we reflect on what we are grateful for, take the time to think about why and what you enjoy about your friends. Tell them or even write it down. These two friends and I have decided to do this every year at Thanksgiving. The emails we exchanged told the story of friends who deeply appreciate the best in each of us; even when we didn’t even know it about ourselves. And for that, we are all incredibly grateful.