A Fine Friend-zy

Well, as you all may know, the wedding has come and gone, and I can honestly say that there's a great sense of relief that it's over. After having a singular event so completely consume our lives for a year, it feels great to be able to move on. It seems that in the last few months leading up to the big day, I could focus on nothing else. Hence, my four month hiatus from Pdxpectations. Now that life is settling back into some of its familiar rhythms, I have found myself with the overwhelming desire to write. I've been thinking about my first pre-wedding post for the past few weeks, and have come up with nothing more than blogger-block. So where to begin?
I've been thinking a lot lately about inspiration. What inspires me and what motivates me to be the best person that I can be? We all get down from time to time, and it's easy to forget about all the great things we have going for ourselves. So how do we pull ourselves out of these little funks that tend to move in every once in a while? For me, it's my amazing friends that inspire and motivate me to be a better person.
It's easy to compare our successes and failures to our friends. Who hasn't measured their career, fashion sense, or relationship against one of their besties? It's easy to look at your friend's life and think she is so much better off than you. But comparisons get you nowhere in terms of moving forward with your own life. So, instead of comparing, why not celebrate her successes, and try to learn from them.
I try to look at each of my friends and think about what characteristics of hers' I could learn from. One of my best friends is an amazing Mom, and even though I don't have kids of my own yet, I know I can learn from her compassion and kindness. Another friend has a successful career and is an amazing designer. Even though I'm not all that inclined in the design department, and my career leaves a bit to be desired, I admire her dedication, work ethic and incredible attention to detail. Another friend's generosity and passion continuously overwhelms me, and I have become much more giving throughout the course of our friendship.
My friends mean the world to me, and I can't imagine life without them. We're all so different, but over the years of our friendships, we have learned to celebrate those differences, instead of judging against them. So, thanks Girls! You know who you are, and you are all continuously an inspiration to me. Thanks for letting me be me, and for participating in this fabulous life we live together.