Chili and Friends

12-16-17

#myDecemberGoal

Chili and Friends

            IU beat Notre Dame. My whole family was cheering at the top of their voices as the walk on Zach McRoberts grabbed the offensive rebound from a free throw and passed it to Juwan Morgan for the game winning dunk. It was Archie Miller’s first signature win as IU basketball head coach. He really knows how to bring out the best in his players.

            Later in the evening, we had family friends over for chili and conversation. My mom made some fabulous chili and cornbread for dinner. It tasted really good. There is nothing like having a community of friends. We have known this family since I was 5 years old. I’ve always thought that people are special because they are our time capsules. This particular family has watched me grow up and knows what I was like before high school and before college. Throughout the evening, we sipped our chili and talked about how things at IU are going and topics involving West Lafayette. We shared our inside jokes and remembered old teachers we had as high schoolers. Reminiscing is the best and I’m thankful that we still have friends in the neighborhood who we can invite over to share an evening with.

            After high school, I learned how important friendship really is. Now as I’m searching for jobs, I try to remember that it’s the people that make a city great, not the fancy buildings and other perks. Wherever there is solid community, that’s where I want to be. I’m praying to God that he’ll bless me with as good a community of friends as I’ve had in West Lafayette. Also, random sentence right here. My mom just went out to our van to get the change that we keep in there. Supposedly, someone in our neighborhood has been breaking into cars. Before my mom walked out the door she said, “I don’t subsidize thieves.”

            Whether you value loose change or a good bowl of chili, I hope that genuine friendships are a top priority for you. I know that friends have made life so much more enjoyable for me, especially as life gets more complex. Friends bring the happiness and a listening ear. They bring encouragement and howls of laughter. And like a good coach, they bring out the best in you.

-Brody