An intentional life

This summer, I completed a quilt I named “Cherished Friendship,” which I was bold enough to enter into our local Fall Fair. Quilting, for me, is so much more than just fabric, thread, and design.

The fussy-cut images of friends featured in each block symbolize the amazing friendships I am fortunate to have in my life. I believe it’s these friendships that gave me the courage to enter the quilt into the fair in the first place.

The true value of friendship is so much more than what I could ever articulate in one form. That’s why, as friends, we express this value in so many different ways.

Whether it’s a trip to see Pink in concert, being tucked away camping with no cell service, heartfelt conversations, walks, gifts, holding her while she cries deeply, cheering them on as they take a huge leap in their lives, bearing witness to their family journey, or laughing together outside for hours after the movie has ended and the popcorn has been swept up—it’s all in the name of friendship, and to me, that means it’s all in the name of love.

A beautiful thing about friendship is that it comes in so many forms: those deep friendships I’m nodding to above, as well as family friends, work or project friends, common interest friends, couple friends, fun-time friends. These friendships evolve and change over time, much like we each do in our journey of life. A friendship, like a quilt, requires care and attention. Each stitch, like each shared moment, strengthens the bond and adds to the overall beauty. Just as a quilt can be made up of different fabrics, colours, and patterns, our friendships are woven from diverse experiences, personalities, and emotions.

Just like in quilting, where the placement of each piece is intentional, so too are the relationships we nurture. We choose to invest time, love, and effort into our friendships, knowing that they will grow and evolve, sometimes becoming even more meaningful as the years go by.

For me, "Cherished Friendship" encapsulates the essence of these relationships, a reminder of how diverse and meaningful they are in our lives. I encourage you to tune into your friendships the next time you’re creating something. It could be as simple as dinner tonight or as all-encompassing as an artistic project. Feel into your friendships and discover how much they truly mean to you. Enjoy the light this brings to you, and then shine that light out, encouraging others.

I welcome you to share in our FB page with the hashtag #Friendships your thoughts, ideas, what you created, what has been stirred up for you as you explore your Cherished Friendships.