Sasha's Snippets: The Blog ;)

words that mean/represent more than an entire dictionary ever could to me.

Earlier this week, I received quite possibly the highest caliber of compliment I could get from a friend whom I value more than most people in my life for a plethora of reasons but in large part because of what kind of person she is to then be saying that about/to me.

(I would like to add this is the second post I have written and published either inspired by this friend, inspired because of how this friend acts/who they are, and because of how lucky I feel to have the place in their life I do — so everything they say truly does mean this much to me!)

While it was only intended to be a meaningless remark, it carried more for me than they could ever have known – and for this, they referred to me as “their comfort person” or “a comfort person”. This meant many other things to me. She felt safe, loved, fearless, accepted, happy, grounded, etc., around me and treasured my presence just as much as I treasure hers. It got me thinking a lot about the phrase comfort person, in terms of firstly implementing a thought process into my life of using the lens as a means to evaluate my life and the people/relationships in it.

To be loved is to be seen. To be seen is to be unequivocally and unconditionally loved. 

Every consciously and unconsciously, we walk around making choices and causing displays of what makes us “us.” All derived from our personalities which are derived from our core beliefs, values, and instincts. In doing so, we get to an age and level of self-awareness where we acknowledge and are aware of our strengths and weaknesses. For some of these weaknesses, we “work on them” and grow over time, and for others, we operate in a manner where we are aware of them and live life coexisting – so long as they are not hurting others. However, when it comes to personal strengths, these are things on which we often pride ourselves significantly. For example, I know personally I am one of the funniest people I know – I usually say, “Anyone can say whatever they want about me – be it I’m fat, I’m ugly, I’m stupid, but they can never say I’m not funny!” And while the fact I am very funny is an undisputed truth, it also reflects certain insecurities of mine even in that statement – but that’s beside the point. 

The manner in which our strengths and weaknesses manifest themselves says a lot about people and says even more about someone who they choose to keep around them. 

For example, in my college essay, I wrote five different sections, each telling a part of me and my core values/personality aspects through a memory or photo style. Those being “Trusted Friend,” “Anxious Adventurer,” “Sentimental Soul/Memory Keeper,” “Island Girl,” and “Only Child.” In less than 500 words, I attempted to describe what I thought my strengths were (even my weaknesses) and what these strengths made me who I am. This culminated into an incredible role with it: an anxiety-riddled, scrappy yet delicate only child who at the same time is the center of the party and is always down for any adventure/side quest but finds the center of her joy from people and making memories regardless of how mundane the memory with those she loves and more than that chronicling those memories to cherish forever because they mean so much. 

While this is a convoluted manner of explaining who I am (and was VERY difficult to put into simply 500 words), I think it describes me perfectly. But for someone who finds so much of their joy from the presence and experiences with those she loves, who I surround myself with, and who they are at their core, it is an essential thing for me. I have always been fairly on point with my barometer of who is someone I want to surround myself with and who is not – I always assumed it was a natural instinct, but frankly, I think it’s more than that now. 

I have been so lucky to have found such incredible, genuine, beautiful people in my life. While each and every one of them is different, they all share a core of who they are and reflect the best qualities I see in myself. Most importantly, I take insurmountable comfort and, frankly, pure joy in knowing who I’ve chosen to be around me, and, so to say, fill me up in life maintains those core qualities—and I know that’s not just a beautiful thing but something I will continue to be actively grateful for and conscious of going forward everyday!

p.s. don’t forget to tell your friends you love them – who knows what it will mean to them and it might just inspire them to write something like this about you💝 I promise even if you’re nervous you should – I’m frankly nervous to send her this but if I let that stop me I would be doing that out of irrational fear I internalize – but THIS is not about me its a thank you note, love letter, and reflection, an di😇