Ode to Galentines

Last semester from Thanksgiving to Christmas break, I marathoned through  Parks and Recreation. Obviously I had studying and extracurriculars and social obligations, but I somehow managed to watch all 7 seasons. The show is like watching sunshine. It’s full of beautiful friendships that aren’t always perfect, but are somehow as supportive and loving as possible. From Ann and Leslie’s best friendship, to Tom and Donna’s[KM1]  Treat Yo Self days, to each nuanced and splendidly real friendship each character found with another, I was obsessed with the way the show promoted and celebrated friendship.

With one final semester at Notre Dame, my friends and I have decided to embrace our inner Leslie Knopes. From hosting parties solely dedicated to validating each other, to learning how to Salsa downtown, to trying out new restaurants in South Bend, we’re making the most of these last few months. My own Leslie Knope zeal has come out in the form of weekly yoga and meditation classes I lead on Fridays. This past Friday, I decided to kick it true Parks and Rec style and insist we go out to Galentines Day brunch after my class. It was wonderful to be surrounded by my close friends, sharing and rejoicing in our friendships. My weekend only got better when my mom, sister, and one of my best friends from home and her mom came to visit on Sunday. We had a celebration of friendship with yet another brunch. (I swear Uptown Kitchen made a ton of money off me this weekend).

I continue to revel in the amazing way friendship and the communities we build alongside them work. At Notre Dame, we all are immensely talented academically and usually artistically or athletically as well. These talents are important and are going to be the tools we use to make the world a better place. But our smaller gifts, the subtle ones that sometimes go un-noticed are the ones that build our small groups of friends into communities where we flourish. I see it so clearly in my own friends. I have a few friends who are gifted in listening, and my late night chats with them are nothing but therapeutic. I have a few others who are gifted in planning events or hosting parties, giving us occasion after occasion to see each other. I have a friend who teaches us different Latin dances so we don’t make a fool of ourselves at Salsa night. I have another friend who reaches out and finds service opportunities for us to be part of. I am constantly filled with gratitude to be so privileged to have so many delightful friends in my life.

Each friend of mine makes my life and our community richer. God gives us huge talents we can use to change the world, but also smaller, equally important talents we can use to transform the lives of those around us. Each member of my group of friends contributes to making our lives more joyful than they would be without them there.

Valentine’s Day weekend makes it easy to focus on what one does and doesn’t have. The internet is full of people lamenting on not having a date, or squealing over the romantic relationships that set them apart. But this weekend I was so happy and surprised to see my Instagram covered in pictures of Galentine’s Day brunches. Instead of dwelling on what we did or didn’t have in our love lives, we celebrated the friendships that hold us together through it all. The friendships that God has called us to and strengthened with our unique gifts and talents. The friendships that leave me brimming with happiness at the smiling faces that make my life better. I think this weekend we would have made Leslie Knope proud.