#7: An Unlikely Friendship

On Valentine’s Day we often celebrate romantic love; but I want to use this post to celebrate the love between two (unlikely) friends instead. One early morning at the gym in 2018, I found myself walking on the Stairmaster. A young-twenty-something girl went to get on a Stairmaster that I knew was broken. I took off my headphones to let her know she needed to use a different machine. She then hopped on the only one available, which happened to be next to me. Instantly we were engaged in a deep conversation and by the end of our cardio session, she had invited me to join a women’s monthly mastermind group she was co-leading with a life coach in the area.

Several years have passed, and Kelly and I have become close friends, talking several times each week. In fact, there was a time in 2019 that Kelly and I discussed writing a book together (she would help me ghost write my story). So, it was a no-brainer for us to team up together in the creation of this blog. While the experiences and content are my own, Kelly is the one who writes the blog and maintains my website. 

We are certainly an unexpected pair. I met Kelly when she was in her mid-twenties. At the time, she didn’t have children and she was preparing for her first bodybuilding show. I was in my mid-forties, had three nearly-grown children, and was a distance athlete. Our upbringings, politics, and religion are wholly dissimilar as well. What’s relevant about sharing these differences? To underscore the importance that meaningful relationships can sometimes form between people who are nothing alike. I say ‘nothing alike’ but truly I mean that from our perceived descriptions. 

In fact, we are similar to one another in deeply meaningful ways. We are both optimistic, growth-oriented, straight-forward, and hardworking. Our text chains are filled with motivational quotes, wins, struggles, and podcast/article recommendations. We hold each other accountable to our goals and dreams and seek to cheer and challenge one another to move forward. 

Often, we laugh about how unlikely of a duo we are, but marvel at how deeply connected we feel. Now in 2022, I find myself an empty nester and Kelly has a new baby. I am still in Fort Worth, but Kelly moved near Austin. I am training for a 100-mile ultra and Kelly is gearing up to run a 10K with her 9-month-old daughter and will be moving into her first bodybuilding prep postpartum. Our lives may look different from 2018 to 2022, but our support and love for one another has not waivered (only strengthened). 

When Kelly and I were discussing what this post could be, I underscored the importance of opening yourself up to different types of friends. Kelly agreed and mentioned a quote in one of her favorite books that she reads to her daughter, Genevieve. The book is Dear Girl by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and contains myriad messages the author wants her sweet girl to know. One page reads “Dear girl, find people like you. Find people who are not like you.” This message rings with a message our society as a whole needs right now: the value in connecting with those who are and are not similar to ourselves. 

Because of me, Kelly ran two half marathons and has continued to set running goals. Because of Kelly, I have this blog. We can accomplish so much more (and sometimes things we would never have imagined possible) when we open ourselves to people (and by extension opportunities). So, if you find yourself with many friends who look like you, I challenge you to be open to that unlikely friend. "True friendship is when two friends can walk in opposite directions, yet remain side by side.” Our friendship is rooted in shared values yet manifests in our lives differently. We are better people because of our friendship, and I cannot wait to continue on our unique journeys right alongside each other. 

Until Next Monday...