Free By Design » Friends

People Matter

Kimberly Cooley — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:49:28 +0000

Good evening. Caring for someone is not solely about reacting to human emotion. Caring brings life to a bond that runs so much deeper…The beginning of “doing life together.” People matter.

Peace – Kimberly

It Was Just A Dream

Kimberly Cooley — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 01:10:06 +0000

Good evening. Life is ironic. There are those people who you truthfully don’t miss from your life, but then there are those who you can’t imagine a day without. One thing’s for certain, the former makes you appreciate the latter.

Peace – Kimberly

Meaningful

Kimberly Cooley — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:59:54 +0000

Good evening. A day that started out crappy turned out to be a night that was long overdue. Good friends produce unforgettable memories, and I am grateful.

Peace – Kimberly

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Value Defined

Kimberly Cooley — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:04:23 +0000

Good evening. What you don’t value, someone else will. Relationships, resources, time – should never be taken for granted. Be thankful; be grateful. Love.

Peace – Kimberly

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Like A Secret

Kimberly Cooley — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 01:26:22 +0000

Good evening. Those relationships of mine that are less publicly visible seem to be the ones that are most authentic. While others flaunt what they’re not used to, I keep close what everyone else envies.

Peace – Kimberly

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Que Sera, Sera

Kimberly Cooley — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:12:18 +0000

Good evening. Winding down 2011, I leave you with one of the most open posts I’ve ever written. I think partly because there are some things I need to hear outside of my own head.

Twenty-eleven has brought its challenges in the areas of relationships and self discovery – all welcomed and received good or bad and whether or not I wanted to. The experiences themselves hurt like hell, but the lessons learned – I’m grateful for.

I think many times we allow or create the setting for a lot our own hurt and blame God for it. In a 20/20 hindsight, I see clearly the signs set before me (by God) that I totally ignored, missed, or just outright didn’t care to see.

I thought I’d learned my lesson about placing people on pedestals they can’t humanly live up to. In some cases, I tried to make them who I wanted them to be in my life while others I simply saw something great in them and tried to force them to see it too. The reality is that in either case, I was wrong and out of bounds. If people genuinely want to be in your life they will be. They won’t appear/disappear based on a need; they won’t only think about you when they see you. They will have a presence that’s immovable, solid, loyal, and grounded in love. You don’t have to do anything special or be anyone special, just be there to reciprocate love – simple as that.

We all need someone to be there and to love and accept us for who we are, but we don’t need everyone. As I’ve grown older, I realize it really is okay to have one best friend. Relationships are a responsibility and not a privilege. They take time, work, and effort – more than the average person is willing to commit to. I’d much rather have one true, authentic, consistent person in my life than 20 who couldn’t care less about me aside from their own intent.

People will outright use you, and it hurts when they do, but I’ve learned to never let that stop me from giving. Yes. It’s discouraging, but when it’s all said and done, what you reap is so much greater than any abuse or harm anyone could ever cause you.

Sometimes the ill treatment we receive is a direct result of the hurt people are experiencing themselves. I say this because a couple of weeks ago, I was in a major place of hurt and nearly cut someone deeply with words and didn’t even realize it. Thankfully my best friend called me on it early enough not to cause harm. Hurting people hurt people. This is but one reason why it’s essential to have people in your life who will hold you accountable for your “mess” while at the same time, show you a better way. While many would not welcome correction, I personally don’t want anyone in my life who refuse to tell me “no” who refuse to disagree or challenge me.

I’ll end with something I’ve said before – if I can trust God with my life, I can certainly trust Him with who enters or exits my life. I trust Him to guard my heart, and if I have to go through uncomfortable experiences, so be it because in the end, all I want is what’s supposed to be.

Peace – Kimberly

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Covered

Kimberly Cooley — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:07:07 +0000

Good evening. It’s cool to have people around who are fun, but it’s essential to have people even closer of whom you trust. The difference between the two? A whole lot of people, and the beautiful part is that I’m not lacking. Excited to see my best friend today. God knows what we need, when we need it, and who He can trust with it.

Peace – Kimberly

Intra Circle

Kimberly Cooley — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:03:30 +0000

“Practice loving everybody and everything all the time, but hang with people and in places that inspire you.” – Russell Simmons

Heart Forward

Kimberly Cooley — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:55:41 +0000

Good evening. Being able to easily let someone go doesn’t mean that letting them go was easy. It just means that you believe in where you’re going & who you are to be – with or without them.

Peace – Kimberly

Somebody Bigger

Kimberly Cooley — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 04:28:50 +0000

Good evening, I don’t believe in giving up on people at all, but one of the greatest lessons Bishop ever taught me was to influence negative situations positively…even if it means removing myself from the situation. I’ll get in the trenches and fight with people till the end, but when the war is within, I’m worthless. It’s not about me because it’s bigger than me. Seek Him.

Peace – Kimberly