I sent my friend cottage cheese for her birthday 🎁
Yes, I really did that.
Let me tell you why...
Because cottage cheese is our thing. Not just any kind of cottage cheese, the Good Culture, Lactose-Free cottage cheese (the BEST kind).
It's our thing because we are both focusing on eating our protein like it is a full time job, neither one of us can tolerate dairy, and the stores rarely have it in stock, so it's basically like finding gold when you get some.
(And, I cannot tell you how delighted I was to place that Instacart order that morning thinking about cracking her up when cottage cheese showed up on her birthday. 🤣)
This year is my 8th year owning and operating The Polen Group (more to come on that soon!). 8 years ago, I didn't even know this person existed, let alone that she preferred Good Culture Lactose-Free Cottage Cheese.
8 years ago, I didn't know she AND SO MANY OTHERS would become such a huge part of my life. To know and to be known at this level is one of the greatest gifts of this journey.
As this milestone approaches, I find myself thinking of these beautiful relationships and all they have shared with me:
Hours on Zoom calls brainstorming
Walk and talks to process a hard day
Texts to check in or encourage me
Thousands of memes 😁
In these days, these days that make up years, these years that make up a life... be thankful for relationships that go so deep that you know someone's favorite cottage cheese.
I know I am.
Share this with your "cottage cheese friend" this week,
Let them know how much they mean to you!
A Blessing for Friends Who Hold Us Up
By Kate Bowler
You are called to love,
but people are inherently risky.
Telling your story, being known,
asking for help,
even voicing the same worry again
for fear it might sound cliche.
(Shouldn't you be over it already?)
But something beautiful happens when you are known.
You become stronger somehow.
Think of the pillars holding up cathedrals.
Flying buttresses designed to support walls that might
otherwise crumble.
They allow the structures to rise taller, more intricate,
adorned with ornaments, or filled with stained glass
that scatters colorful light in every direction.
When you don't feel tall or strong, may you find those who
hold you up, who remind you how loved you are.
Yes, you'll get back up again today.
You'll get those kids cereal, help parents with an errand,
go to work or come up with something better to do with retirement hours.
You will try again.
Because someone else's absurd faith in you fortifies you.
They let us face the day, not because we are doing it alone,
but precisely because we aren't.
So, blessed are the flying buttresses --
those who hold us up when everything feels ready to fall apart.
Here's to cottage cheese friends: May we know them, May we be them!
