Support

My nerves stood at attention while Sergeant Anxiety paced in front, threatening to force them through a rigorous stent of calisthenics.

Breathe, you’ll be fine. I silently coached myself, thankful no one else could see the storm brewing within.

I don’t wrestle with anxiety on a regular basis. Just the normal human bouts: crowds, loss of control, and the unknown.

It just so happened all three had combined for this special occasion, my first ever joint-venture book signing, so I wandered the room looking for a job to do.

Just give me some busy work. Something to focus on. A distraction to hold my attention.

But there was none.

The room continued to fill with beautiful ladies, all strangers to me, and I longed for a friend’s face.

Just one.

Groups of women formed, chatting and hugging. They took pictures together. They smiled, rejoiced, and gave their congratulations. They caught up on lost time, and I kept checking my watch.

“I know I’ve met you before. Remind me how I know you?” She opened her book to the front page for me to sign. She had a familiar face, and we eventually figured out our connection, but even still she was there to support her friend. Not me.

I glanced up from the book and my eyes caught the most beautiful sight.

A pair of smiling faces standing across the room. They waved with excitement and embraced me with congratulations. The gratitude growing in my heart threatened to burst it into a thousand pieces. I couldn’t believe they’d come. Just for me.

A half an hour later, I felt another hand on my shoulder and turned around to the delight of another friendly face. Another embrace of gratitude as I swallowed tears. She’d left a dinner with friends and made her way to see me. To buy the book and encourage me in person for no other reason than the fact that she is my friend and wanted to support me.

I couldn’t believe it. How fortunate was I?

It is so easy to take note of absences. After all, that’s what we’re taught from the time we start kindergarten. Who wasn’t present? Who didn’t come?

But what if, rather than operating from an absence mentality, we shifted our focus to those who put forth the effort to be present. To the ones who gave their support. To the ones who went out of their way when they didn’t have to. To the ones who encouraged us, celebrated us, and rejoiced with us.   

I have no idea how many people showed up to our group book signing that night. I didn’t keep count of the total. But three showed up for me. Three beautiful reminders of love and support and friendship. A precious act that has seared itself into my heart forever. Kindness that blessed me far more than I can articulate.

We can’t all be at everything all the time. But when we can show up, we should.

And when others show up for us, let’s be reminded of how blessed we are to have people in our corner – no matter the headcount.