Days of My Life

Everyone must have standards, right? But what do you base yours on? I tend to work out things as I go, and along the way, situations set benchmarks to help me forever measure what I will and will not accept. Today, I’m just pensively exploring some of my standards. I’ll list them by their benchmarks.

My Best Friend: She has set the standard for all of my friends. They don’t have to be like her, but how I interact with her determines how I interact with others in terms of my expectations. We bring out the best in one another, and are capable of bringing out the worst but instead choose to use our superpowers for good. Also, we know how to argue, disagree, whatever, and still keep it moving. We forgive easily and don’t hold on to a grudge. We know when to back off, and when we don’t know, we know how to apologize for going too far. We’re always concerned for each other’s well-being, blah, blah, blah. This is getting too long and mushy. Let’s go on.

Male Friends: Oh my gosh, this one male friend of mine set the bar so high it’s ridiculous, but I’m not backing down since I know that his kind exists. Even though he’s a male friend, he has set the standard for what I’d want in a significant other. We have a friendship where we were once interested in each other, but the time and circumstances weren’t right. We reconnected years later and are good friends. We are both strong in our faith and share a similar understanding of our uniqueness. There are no pretenses, and because the same God rests in both of us, we are just REAL with one another and communication is so easy. He has been my advisor and support system during this last stint with school, and we always return each other’s calls just because. He is kind, considerate, honest, stable in mind and demeanor, level-headed, sensitive, vulnerable, and he ain’t no punk! Not to mention that he is break your neck beautiful inside and out. He’s funny with no cynicism or sarcasm and just plain joyful to be around. Even in the worst situation, he can find a way to laugh. I am completely relaxed in his presence, and the sound of his voice soothes me. Unbelievable. We have no physical relationship at all. And we will maintain our relationship despite significant others. I plan to be at his wedding, and he better be at mine. Same for graduation.

Puppy Dog: Ok, my lazy lap dog wanna be guard dog is my ideal pet and no other can top her. My next dog will have to find a way to channel her spirit. We have been together for years and she has as much of my temperament as I have of hers. She’s tolerant of my dressing and fluffing her, and I’m tolerant of her making me wait fifty years for her to take a crap. She knows that I’m a nosey neighbor by nature, and she sufficiently notifies me of every passerby. Great dog!!! When I’m sick, she stays near my bedside, and even though it hurts her, she jumps onto the bed to guard me at all costs. My friends have to coddle her and appease her before she will let them administer any medicine or help. They have to literally make promises to her not to harm me before she slinks away a few inches while giving them the evil eye. She’s worse than a mother hen. And if she doesn’t like a guy, I know he’s outta here because she is an excellent judge of character. Don’t sleep on animal instinct.

Pastors: Check out www.summerfieldministries.org. Awesome people. Awesome leaders. And R-E-A-L!!! They weren’t afraid to discuss anything from the pulpit–sex, marriage, lying, dying, whatever–and in detail. They shoot straight and tell people what they need to hear as opposed to what they want to hear. They were the first I’ve ever known to just straight sit folks down and teach them how to do a budget so as not to be broke at the end of the month. The practical things that people don’t know they weren’t afraid to teach despite criticism. They teach straight from the book (Bible) without additives and have a thorough understanding of what they’re discussing. They don’t mind admitting their own faults and flaws as well. And they have really big hearts too. Just exceptional people. Glad to have known them so well.

That’s enough for now. My attention is shifting elsewhere. I have a puppy dog to pet.

Ciao!