As the old saying goes, "Friends are the family we choose for ourselves". And boy, do I have some characters in my chosen family. I often joke that my friends are the last people I share good news with. Why, you ask? It's not because they don't care. But because they will be the first to roast me and bring me back to reality. I mean, what are friends for? When I got my masters degree I was met with comments like, "are you my master now?" When I’ve gotten promotions, its always "congrats, but you’re still a corporate slave." But hey, I love them for it. It's that support, humor, and grounding they offer that makes all the difference.
Recently, the Oscars reminded me of the importance of these qualities in friendship. Comedian, Pauly Shore, was the target of a joke by host Jimmy Kimmel during his opening monologue. But Shore didn't take it to heart and even praised his old co-stars Brendan Fraser and Ke Huy Quan for their awards. Talk about grace under fire!
This just goes to show how important humor is in friendship. When life hands us lemons, sometimes all we can do is laugh. And it's even better when we have friends to laugh with us. And let's face it, life is full of unexpected twists and turns. But having a support system of friends who believe in us and encourage us to keep going, even in the face of adversity, can make all the difference.
Shore's shout-out to his old co-stars is also a testament to the power of friendship. Even if you haven't seen or worked with someone in years, a strong bond can still remain. And when one of your friends achieves something amazing, it's important to celebrate and support them…and maybe have a few laughs at their expense. After all, their success is our success too.
So, cheers to the crazy characters in our lives that make it all worth it!