When Someone Tries to Holla While You are Hanging Out With an Ex But Then Backs Down and Says Simply to Your Ex, "You're a Lucky Man" So Still Doesn't Get It

For the love of the familiar:

Exhale. And breathe it in, again. Exhale.

Sometimes, you hang out with people who expand your perspective on life.

And if you are lucky enough, these aren't chance interactions: They are the people in your life.

A friend, who is also an ex of mine, was in town from New York. One of the things I love about being friends with people who I've dated is that there is a particular, and incredible, bond you can have with them.

They know you enough to be able to talk to you about things that matter.  Call you out on the things that need to be called out. Support you in the things that need to be supported.  Challenge you to do and be better.

They know you. They've seen you.  They still see you.

It feels good. And hilarious. And loving.  And familiar.  And great.

To be honest, it feels like hanging out with family that makes you see things you didn't necessarily see before.

And to laugh at the things you did see before.

Love is love is love.

The exhale comes with a particular relaxation that happens with letting masks slip, and the stress of strangers recede: It feels so good to have history with people. Years deep, like rings around a weird ass tree that just grows stronger every year.

Here is to the family that sticks around.  Here is to the family that engages.  It's this kind of engagement that make us- each other- better people in the world. It's within such family that real change within ourselves, and the world, can happen.

In the words of Killer Mike:  Love honestly. Love hard.




Be well; be loved,

k.

(photo: Richard M. Coda via 2000 Light Years From Home)