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The diamond ball is finally behind me and I could finally breathe once again. What a beautiful and wonderful event it was. It was nothing short of fabulous, and I hope to post my speech before this post goes live, but one way or another, it will be on my instagram post. I also thought my speech would be a great Segue and topic for this Monday post: your village and choosing the people who you surround yourself with and who support you.

I have gone through some hard stuff as I am sure many have as well. One thing I could tell you for certain is how important the quality of your village is during your trials and tribulations. In my speech I mention towards the end how I would not be here today if it was not for my village and I meant every single word. My village showed up for me every single day and even more on the days I did not want to show up for myself. It is easy for people to support and love you when you are receiving a bunch of recognition winning and can take care of yourself. What is hard and the true test to those who are there for you are when you are quite literally going through it. When you need to be pushed on a wheelchair. Fed breakfast, lunch and dinner when you cannot even find the energy or strength to eat. When you need to be showered and clothed because you cannot do it yourself. The list goes on and on and everyone’s fight and lowest points are all different but what is the same is the importance of the village.

I have been told that I am a pretty serious person and can turn any topic into a deep conversation. I kind of look at that as my gift in disguise that I received after going through my lowest points in life. The topic of the people you surround yourself with has been the one that has changed dramatically for me and one I take the most seriously. It is also the one I believe the most in and that I am currently still learning as I go.

So here it goes…

I am sure you have heard of the saying “Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are.” If you haven’t, I think it’s because it derived from a Spanish proverb. But growing up, I always got told it in Spanish, “Dime con quién andas y te diré cómo eres.” But it is the same exact thing, and boy did I hate hearing it over and over and over again.

When I was an athlete and basically on top of the world, I had people coming from everywhere to try and be in my life. They would be all about me and would be keeping up with me every single day. Many of these people even reached out when I first announced I got sick. Believe it or not, a lot of these people are not in my village. Once I walked off the field for the last time, came back home, lost my hair, and then was rumored to never be a Division 1 athlete again, there was a total flip in the people that surrounded me.

Anyways, life would soon transition to the next saying, which is, “Hard times will always reveal true friends.” But again, let’s just extend that to revealing your true village. There is a lot to mourn when going through life-changing experiences. One is the person you were before these experiences and what you looked like and what you were doing. Another is the people you had around you that you thought were there to stay and who would be there through thick and thin, that could make it through anything and everything with you, only to then get proven wrong.

But again, this is a blog about perspective, so I pose the situation this way and leave the decision to you. So you could choose to mourn the past or be grateful for your present and your future, and for your true village. Recognize the people who never left and those who entered, who truly care about you, win or lose. Sickness and in health. Better or worse. Till death do you part. And, “when death takes your hand they will hold the other and promise to find you in every lifetime” – Rupi Kaur. Gosh, that line will do it for me every time… 😭

I know I make it sound serious, but I do it because choosing your village and who you allow to surround you should be serious. You should be making vows and commitments to anyone and everyone you have in your village. You should be confident in knowing that the people you would do anything and give your everything for would do the very same for you when it comes down to it. People to celebrate the highs in your life and carry you through your lowest. If you don’t believe me or you still think you could do it all alone, just remember and know that I would not be here today if it were not for my village.

God bless you all and have a safe and wonderful week!