I wrote about a speaker, Chase Jarvis, at the 2014 Big Omaha earlier this year. One of the key things he felt that everyone needed to help them unlock their creativity was to “Find Your People”.
We have all had our people in life. Some come and go and others are there through the years. Some we outgrow, outneed, mature from and realize that they aren’t the safe environment that we thought they were. Every single one though holds significant value on how they impacted our lives and helped us to be a better (or worse) person.
I met Stacy in 8th grade. I don’t remember exactly how we came to be friends, I just remember that we did. I was the new kid in school, knew no one, wore dirt poor clothing and was never created for the “in” crowd. Some how, her and I found each other in this big middle school and we clicked. Stacy and I have gone through a lot, both as individuals and as a people. I’ve watched as Stacy was given a burden of pain that no girl should have to endure with the illness of her brother. I stood at his funeral and my heart ached for her. I didn’t know how to help her because all I wanted to do was to make this… this horrible, painful, heart wrenching life altering event, to not have happened.
We met our husbands and were in each other’s wedding. We stood by each other as those marriages crumbled into pieces. We would go months, even years, without talking, and something would bring us back onto the same path, and it always felt like we were never apart. There were times when we hated each other. No… hated was the wrong word. We were so incredibly hurt by actions each side had taken. But we got over it. 28 years after we met, she is still a part of my people. She is my compass. My home. My constant.
I met Jennie and added her to my photography people. Her passion for photography clearly outweighs mine but we make one heck of a group together, as we each go for different angles on same subjects. I like her people photography much better then my own. She knows how to capture the warmth of her subjects. Me.. I just want to take pictures of bugs. Jennie is also on my fashionista people. She is the one who gets 42 text photos with the words “what about this one?” regarding the next outfit I tried on. I secretly think she wants to accessorize me 
I have a business people. I met Amber and Jill through Ladies who Launch. Both of these ladies are acutely aware of my social networking issues and they have gone to great measures and consideration to find opportunities where I could continue to build confidence with life lines. Amber knows that if it is a Q & A type of meeting, I’m totally comfortable speaking in front of people. She knows that sitting me at a table full of strangers would leave me mortified and looking for the door. Jill has sat with me many times when I am sure all she wanted to do was mingle. I am forever grateful for what they have done. They push me too. They do it with encouragement and positive excitement. You CAN do this. They never leave me totally in my happy place, because they know that I need that gentle reminder that sitting still gets you no where. Along the way, we have picked up more folks to our people. Patti has to be one of the nicest attorneys I’ve ever met. She also has the most beautiful smile and her love of music is one that equals mine. Jenn constantly delights me with her sarcastic banter and no bullshit attitude to what needs to be done.
Find your people. Surrounding yourselves with them. Realize that you need them as much as they need you. Always find ways to make their lives better, because they are always there trying to do the same for you. Don’t neglect your people. Nurture them. They are wonderful things and the only people out there that don’t care if your overweight, socially awkward, unfashionable, highly sarcastic and a bit of a pessimist. They don’t care about that crap…