Show me your friends...and I'll tell you who you are...

Have you ever heard that? My mom used to tell me that all the time when I was growing up. Choose your friends wisely, Angela...and so I did. I had good trustworthy friends growing up. I found I hung out with kids who liked to do fun things, did well in school, were in extracurricular activities, and went to church. I am still best friends with a friend who I went to 1st grade with...we have been through all of life's joys, and challenges together.

Through college I went on to choose my friends who studied and yet had fun. I hung out with kids who had many of the same strong values I had growing up. The kids who caused problems, or tried to stir things up in a negative way, I steered clear of.

You see, my mom was right...the people in your life have an amazing power to influence your destiny. They have a deep affect on you.

Want to look deeper into who you are, and what you value? Write down all the characteristics of your 3 closest friends...what do you do together? Where do you spend your time together? Do they gripe and whine, or are they looking for solutions to problems? Are you inspired when you leave or does it leave you feeling negative? How do they affect you? Do they want the best for you?

Every friend you have in your life has either a positive, neutral, or negative effect on you, right? So, who do you hang out with most? Sometimes when we have to determine if our friends are really right for us. Some friends you should hang out with more, others you should have limited contact, and some friends...well, some friends have to be let go. If you have friends who only drink and gripe, take a closer look, are they adding value to your one and only life? Sometimes the answer is yes...other times the answer is no. The only person who knows the answer is you. What type of person do you want to be now and who do you want to become. How will each of your friendships challenge you to become the person you want to be?

I don't know about you, but I enjoy meeting new people, I enjoy learning about their journey and how they have come to their own successes. I enjoy my friendships and relationships and they build into me.

How about you and your friends? How are you doing? What kind of friends are you hanging out with?

Life is a journey...and some friends are our friends for a lifetime, others for a season, and others will come and go. Make sure you are keeping the right kind of relationships!!!