CONSTRUCTION

All of us are architects by nature—did you know that? We all want to relate to others, to empathize, to BUILD BRIDGES. Or as we all know it, make friendships. Maybe our reasoning behind creating ties with others is different from person to person but the bridge is still nonetheless built. I have bridges with a variety of people in my life—ranging from 2 year-olds to 91 year-olds, from jocks to scientists, from musicians to sculptors, from homeless to the very tip-top of the upper-class, from liberals to ultra conservatives. Somehow within each of these people I have found something similar to myself or to the person I want to continue to grow into. And together this person and I have “built a bridge” which both of us can cross and recross hopefully well into our lives.

But of course there are bridges that crumble or burn, when a friendship deteriorates or just plain fails. That is such an awful feeling and I have experienced a couple of those-- and each time it feels worse. I don’t know if it’s because I always go into friendships hoping for the best, hoping that this friendship will be one which I can always come to rely on but letting go is so hard for me when it comes to that—it is messy and complicated, not always so clean-cut and simple as it might seem to be.

Speaking of building bridges, you all will be happy to know that last night I successfully carried out one of the most sacred and time-honored traditions of being a female…GIRLS NIGHT!!! Would you expect anything less from moi?? YES oh YES, I hosted a girls night at my apartment here in Budapest, international style. So many were represented—Hungary, the US, Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia…and Mary-Kay and Bobbi Brown OF COURSE!!! But by now, if you are absorbing anything from this silly blog you know that I am one who enjoys relating to people in general and I am so thankful for those I have met while in Budapest, and on this night, LAS MUJERES. The women in my program are some of the most powerfully intelligent, aware, and motivated PEOPLE I have ever come across. Their recognition is deserved—and what better way to do so than sitting together in a circle, serenaded by none other than Shakira, surrounded by mounds of chocolate, cakes, and other finger foods with wine and emotions flowing??!...I can feel my brothers backing away from their computer screens right now.

This version of girls night definitely had a more academic feel than any I have previously been a part of, but I think that it is SO interesting as well as important to bring the variety of those who you care about together—whether it be a girls night in Eastern Europe or not, building those bridges is essential.

Please go begin construction.