My Friend Jimmy

Last weekend, a very near and dear friend came in town.  It was nice because it had been, oh...maybe 6 years since I had seen him last?  Well anyways....we got reconnected and we had been talking for a few months now.  Because he has known me for so long, it was very comfortable talking and showing him what fun you could have in our city.  We might be in Indiana, but I know a few spots worth seeing!

He arrived about 6pm to which it was mass chaos at my household.  I got greeted with the biggest Jimmy Hurly hug I could have ever received!  It was awesome.  He comes from a big Catholic family so needless to say, he fit right in with the madness.  He sat down, hugged my mom and was good ole Jimmy.  Then we went out for dinner and drinks.  We had fantastic conversation and we caught up on Rugby, old friends and now what they were doing with their lives, and it was so very nice.  We both were open to conversation and neither one of us really held back on topics.  We talked about some stuff that affected us and molded us into the persons we are today, faith, family, jobs, and over all just a little bit of everything.  Which, I think we are pretty cool people personally, BUT I may be a little biased...

Upon being old and tired, we both decided at 11:30pm to call it a night.  So we walked back to my car and I literally tossed him my iPod.  "Here Mr. DJ...."  We listen to similar music so I knew that wasn't going to be a problem.  We listened (and sang) to a plethora of post grunge, pop, and some humorous little numbers.  As we pulled into my driveway, we concluded our journey with a familiar song:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fndeDfaWCg.  It was full of dramatic arm motions, full out belting, and emotion.  There is just nothing that Backstreet Boys can't fix, let me tell you!

So as we were getting ready to go to bed Jimmy comes upon his sleeping arrangement.  You see, he  sleeps on very firm bed.  When he sat down on mine, he sunk.  "I CAN'T SLEEP ON THIS!!!  IT'S LIKE A TRAMPOLINE!!!" (extreme laughter followed) I just walked away shaking my head.  We both had to wake up early not only to get him on the road to his Rugby Camp but to go to Church as well.  6:30am came really quickly around and yet we both were ready and there on time.

It is these types of friendships I just love and cherish.  There is just us being friends.  Nothing sexual.  Nothing controversial.  Nothing but pure friends being there for one another.  We could be the dorks we were with absolutely no judgement.  We could talk about whatever because we knew the other wasn't going to chastise or belittle the other for our mistakes.  It was simply the most refreshing Saturday night I have had in a very long time.

One thing our friendship has taught me is that you HAVE to be yourself, shamelessly.  Those who get it....well, they get it and those who don't, obviously....well, don't.  You shouldn't have to explain yourself.   I think what makes this friendship a special one is that we bond on several notes.  We are like minded and being same faith and background, we share a similar foundation.  We share common interest in sports and activities.  We are able to laugh and commiserate over poor relationships and share moments of frustrations.

We allow each other bragging rights with his nieces and nephews.  We equally encourage and help build each other up and isn't that what a friend does?

Finding friendships as such just makes me appreciate them so much more as they are few and far between.  To find such souls....it is so very refreshing and I am forever grateful!  Friends such as Jimmy have a special place in my heart.

Do you have friends that you share such a bond with?  Care to share?  Please comment on our Facebook page or tweet us....we would love to hear about them!
<3 Catie

Reflection of Appreciation: Call to Action February

"It's not enough to love, people have to feel that they are loved."  St. John Bosco

Last night, my salon had a meeting.  They get together every other month to talk about the salon dynamics, house keeping, new events, additions and other topics to which will enhance our client's over all experience.  With that being said, something of a really wonderful thought stuck in my mind...we all love and respect each other as stylists and estheticians as well as in the end are working toward a common goal.  We want YOU our client to feel relaxed and as though you are apart of our salon family too.

Each of us are small business owners with a common home at our salon.  Our station is your oasis to chat about anything and whatever your heart desires.  It is our hope that as you are walking out our doors that you too have had a positive relaxing experience.

I was reminded that not everyone has a good day every day.  There will be days where we will be stressed because of life and all it's many unpredictable occurrences.  This surge in snow for an instance, I have a few coworkers that drive quite a distance to work and it really did stress them out driving in it!  I cannot even imagine.  There are some that have children and with all the delays and closings had a hard time trying to balance their appointments and making sure their bases were covered.  So with that all said, it is important just to support where our fellow stylists need supported and not to take anything personally.

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We have a great team.  I think that our owners really do an amazing job at making sure the personalities among our group work well, that we are on the same page and that everyone is pulling their weight.  I cannot tell you how wonderful it is knowing that I am supported and that I help support this home too.

At the very end of the meeting, our owners reminded us that they truly love us.  They appreciate us as we are representing a common vision and appreciate our desire to help the salon be everything it should be.  That loving and positive approach is so much of what we all need to hear from time to time.  We all should feel that our gifts are appreciated and that our hard work is paying off.

For my January-March "non-resolution" resolution, I am striving to do one random act of kindness daily.  I want to do things for others because that is the right thing to do.  I want others to feel appreciated.  I too desire to express true and genuine appreciation for others help and gifts.   Pay it forward don't you know!  Sometimes the gift of appreciation is the best thing you can bestow upon a person.  You never know what that means or how it affects their whole day.  It might just be enough to turn a rough start into a photo finish!

Here is to a more appreciative and giving February...how are you going to show someone that you appreciate them today?  I want to challenge you to really embrace that question and make February the best one yet!

Catie Manning