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Today is an exciting day at The Expansion Project.
Monique, Faizan, Texas, and I are in Vancouver, and will be interviewing on the Kid Carson Podcast later today.
This is a loop-closing moment for us.
Let me explain.
Some time ago (can't remember exactly when because everything has moved at turbo-speed in the last two years!), Texas and Monique (our business partners) bought a new car. They had specific requirements in mind, like most of us do when car-shopping. What they left with felt like a luxury vehicle, which somehow worked out in their price range thanks to a helpful salesperson.
The next day, they brought the car over to our house, and invited us to sit in it. As the four of us sat in the driveway, and then did a lazy loop around the neighbourhood, we imagined what it might be like to take road trips together in this vehicle. We imagined driving off to Vancouver or Calgary for some speaking engagement, and how much fun that might be.
Faizan and I were so touched that they considered our comfort when deciding on their car, including an extra row in the back that our kids could squeeze in to if they had to tag along.
It's been such a beautiful experience blending our lives, and something that usually isn't done to this degree between people who have known each other such a short time and own a business together.
So that first day, when we imagined travelling together, we planted a seed, a wish, a no-strings-attached hope for our collective future.
And yesterday, that loop closed.
We have travelled together a lot in that vehicle, through the small towns we live in, back and forth to each others' places, and around the Okanagon on mini-day-trip-adventures.
But this is the first time we are overnighting away, all four of us.
And it's the car that got us here.
I tell this story today because for many years, I put my hopes for new adult friendship on hold. I was busy with young children, and most of the others I knew were in the same boat. Those in my cohort who weren't raising kids were having grand adventures in work and travel, and in many ways, I felt a bit left behind. My focus and attention was consumed by what was going on in my own household, and when I did have a moment to look up, I was battling my mental health demons, and unable to be very good company without an iron-clad mask.
The cars my husband and I chose were practical and convenient for our family of four, but didn't really include the needs of others in our periphery.
And when it came to business, I had been burned enough to believe that "you don't mix business and pleasure", and so was a bit wary about letting anyone in too close.
When Monique and Texas included us without being asked, it shifted my definition of family, my beliefs about business partners, and cemented a wish for adult friendships that went beyond the day-to-day of chores and errands.
I had a sudden understanding that friendship could cross fear-based boundaries and be rooted in shared purpose and vision.
This weekend, not only are we speaking on a podcast, we are also presenting a new perspective on burnout (based on Advanced Consciousness Therapy) to a group of clinical counselors at their annual meeting. It has been such a thrill to weave together our different skills and gifts in order to bring these ideas to a larger and larger audience.
The best part is, I get to do this with my husband and two of my closest friends.
Enough about me, how about you?
As you marinade in your adult years, who are the ones closest to you?
Have you made room for friendships that go beyond the surface?
Have you planted seeds for how your life might look a year or two from now?
Are you noticing your closing-the-loop moments?
We hope you are.
Because life is so much better with friends who get you, especially when you can travel together!
Yours in A Richer Life,
Dr. Saira on behalf of The Founding Four
P.S. We just launched our new podcast, which is the audio version of our weekly videos! For those who prefer to listen rather than watch, look for Expansion Now on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
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