Give Extra Thanks

{Although this shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, I am so glad that I got the chance to sit down and write this note to my friend.  All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias}

Share a special thank you this holiday season to those that Give Extra in your life.

If I could go back and relive a particular time in my life, I know exactly when I would go back to – my first semester in college (that would be 1997, for those of you that are curious).   I was nervous to leave home, but so darn excited about my adventures-to-be.  And for good reason. my first few months at Carolina proved to be some of the most exciting times.

I made more friends in those first few weeks at school than I have before or since.  Many of those have turned out to be life-long friends.  I thrived in my new-found independence.  I set my own curfew, I decided when I got up in the morning (unless I was unlucky enough to get an 8 am class – the worst!).  I learned more than I ever knew possible – both in the classroom and out.  And, I discovered my love for reading and writing.

More than anything though, I found my roommate and my suitemates.  Noelle and I picked each other as roommates once we found out we were both heading to UNC.  We were friends in high school, but not super-close.  We figured, we’d make good roommates, and didn’t think much of it.  It was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Then luck struck us both – our dorm suite was made up of one hallway with four rooms and a shared bathroom.  This could have gone either way – 8 girls, one shower?  Turns out, it was awesome.  Not the one-shower bit, but the community we created.  The eight of us bonded in a way that only 18-year-olds living alone for the first time can.  We became a family.

Noelle and I ended up living together all four years in college.  We definitely had our spats, but at the end of the day, we always came back to our friendship.

When we drank to much after one notorious Halloween, we held each other’s hair back in the bathroom.

When boys broke our hearts, we held each other up and plotted (pretend) revenge together.
When we each got married, we were bridesmaids in the other’s wedding.

Now, nearly 15 years after graduation (ack!), she’s still the first person I want to call when something great happens.  And, she’s one of the first people I call when the not-so-great happens.

Both of us have had our hardships in the years since school, and I know she’s been there for me, crying with me during the bad times.  I’d like to think I’ve been there for her too, but I don’t think it’s possible that I’ve been the rock for her, that she’s been for me.  She’s so darn strong for other people.  I hope she knows what a great friend she is to me, and everyone else that has the privilege to know her.
This is my THANK YOU to my great friend Noelle.  Extra Gum challenged me to Give Extra thanks to someone in my life this year, and she was the first person I thought of.

I’ll be sending this little care package her way to show her how much I appreciate her friendship.  And, as we venture into the holiday season, I encourage you to do the same – who made this year extra special for you?  Share your #ExtraGumMoments and let someone you value in your life know how much you appreciate them!