Feel free to judge me by the company I keep. I keep some pretty rocking company. I know a lot of people doing some really splendid things to plant good seeds in this world. I would like to share one such person with you.
As wee little ones
All grown up.
It is rare when you are in your thirtieth year of life to have a best friend that you have known for thirty years. I often describe Jay as my very first friend, for that is what he is. Our brothers, who are two years older than us, went to pre-school together so Jay and I have literally known each other my entire life (he is six months older than me). We went to pre-school together, grew up on the same street and also went to the same overnight summer camp for a good ten years or so. I have no recollection of meeting him, as I have always known him. We had a tumultuous love affair that lasted from the age of 3 until 10, when we were torn apart, broken hearts and all, with my family’s move from Winnipeg to Toronto. We have been on many adventures together: camped in Lake of The Woods, travelled through Israel, met up in in New York, and most recently, celebrated my 29th birthday in Chicago.
We have regular phone dates that are marathon conversations. Jay is currently in Iowa doing his PhD in Psychology, and I can’t help but feel like our phone dates serve as counselling sessions for me. He is absolutely amazing at what he does. He tells me exactly what I need to hear, without mincing words and he is a rolodex of wise phrases and quotes that never fail to hit their mark.
So a couple of months ago when I went down to collect my mail, and found a large envelope with the return address in Iowa, I couldn’t imagine what was inside. What I found was a book. Jay had written a book, My Choice. My Life, and kept it a secret from most people, including me. I suspected he was up to something, but I didn’t know what exactly. Many of the topics Jay covers in this book, touch on the things he and I have talked about regarding health, love, work, goals, partnership and ultimately, finding total balance in life.
He put real life experiences into a book that helps to guide and inspire anyone, in any stage of life, to find balance. With proper balance, everything in our lives can be enjoyed that much more. It enables us to be present with what we are currently attending to, and gives us the time we need to nourish ourselves by doing the things that serve our physical, mental and emotional health.
I recently encountered a health challenge that inspired my New Year’s resolution. It was reading this book that made me realize, that though I was promoting and helping configure balance for everyone else in my life, I was failing to do it for myself. My very first friend, of course, was there to help and support me.
The most common response I get when I talk to people about their health and making it a priority, always comes down to time, and not having enough of it. As my amazon review says: “Who doesn’t wish they had a few more hours in the day? The principles outlined in this book easily brings in to focus where we can find those hours and the most optimal way to use them”.
What is most amazing about my friendship with Jay, is that, though we have taken very different paths to be where we are today, we have both landed at the very same understanding with the very same goal- to help people live their life to it’s fullest potential. And perhaps those seeds were planted for us way back on our first day of pre-school at Children’s House where the philosophy was, and still is, to exercise self-motivation, independence, and responsibility for ones own achievements. Isn’t this exactly what we are trying to teach others?
I LOVE this article Meg! You two are an anomaly individually in your teaching and practice of a healthy lifestyle, but together are a force to be reckoned with!
Did you realize you’re both wearing the same colors in your chicago photo as your little ones photo? Was that planned? I love it!
S
Meg, It is so nice to read your article on you and Jay. There is nothing like old friends especially when they can maintain a connection, which you 2 have. I got FARKLEMPT by your thoughts. You both still have Oxford St. and Children’s House in yopur soul. I still have movies of you and Jay playing in the River Heights Community Center playground. As Jay narrates in his gravelly voice “My friend Meghan”. Take care, Marty
Dear Meghan,
how very very thoughtful. I know when you wrote this you went down to your soul and verbalized through your blog how you felt. Your words are so sincere and know it comes from the heart. The two pictures are outstanding. I know how much the two of you have grown mentally, physically and emotionally and what a fabulous job of growing you have done. Children’ house often taught their kids to think independently and become self sufficient people. ‘DOING YOUR OWN THING” is something both have achieved and achieved it successfully. Thank you for putting this together. There is nothing like old friends who walk in and out of each other’s lives and leave strong footprints. Good luck in what you do and have a wonderful Happy New Year, Roz
[...] inhibits key enzymes, suppressed thyroid function and is also banned in many countries. As my friend Jay says, “When there’s doubt, there is no doubt”. Here is more on [...]