I consider myself an introvert. I tend to be quiet, an observer.  I prefer smaller, more intimate gatherings and would certainly not put myself in the category of ‘social butterfly’. I would not say that I have a lot of friends, however, the friends I do have are friendships that are rooted in strong foundations of loyalty, love and kindness. The relationships that I hold so close to my heart are ones I cherish and ones I know will last a lifetime.

As I get older I have learned that it’s not about the quantity of friends I have but more the quality of each of the relationships I invite into my life. I tend to have deep conversations right off the bat and feel very foreign when I am in a situation where I am surrounded by individuals who look past me when they ask me a question, inquiring about surface matters such as the weather.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that the weather is nothing to speak of.  I Love talking about sunny days and warm summer evenings, however, I’m talking about ‘filler’ conversation. You know, the more superficial conversation that you seem to inevitably find yourself in from time to time. I like to cut to the chase and if I feel a connection with you and feel as though the Universe has bought us together for some special, sacred reason –which is most always the case- I’m the type of person who will jump right in and ask you about, You. I’ll ask you about who you are, where you’re from and I don’t mind getting deep with the nitty-gritty straight away. I realize that’s not for everyone nor is everyone comfortable with that, however, the people I am drawn to seem to always be on the same wavelength as I am and that can make some pretty remarkable, memorable get-togethers.

When I find myself longing for the connection of these beloved friendships, I always plan our dates consciously, keeping in mind that the space and time we are going to share is one that needs to nourish both body and mind. Because I don’t get the opportunity to see my gals on a regular basis, we plan our dates with as much love as we can to make our time together truly special and meaningful. From the clothes I decide to wear to the food we eat, these times are planned with the nourishment of body and soul at the forefront.

When planning a night out with my girls, I always pick a place to eat that is vibrant and rich in both taste (Indian and Ethiopian are a few of our favs!) and energy yet quiet enough that we can hear one another speak. The times are rare that we can all meet so we like to gather in a setting where we can chat, discuss and share stories without too much strain. We laugh over dinner and catch-up, talking about how we need to get together more often. Enjoying a tasty treat is also top priority so we all dig in and share a few yummy desserts and more convo over tea. Our girls night is not complete without a nice glass or two of vino and a little letting loose on the dance floor, laughing the evening away and feeling as though only a day has passed since last we were together.

The evening ends as quickly as it started and even though they may only happen a few times a year, these moments we share with one another are sacred and are ones that I will carry with me for a lifetime. . .

Megan Casten is a lover of life and adventure. Creator of www.megancasten.com, she gains strength and confidence in sharing her own life experiences with others in hopes that she might touch someone’s heart who may need it. Megan’s passion is to inspire and motivate others and being able to do this full-time is, well, a dream job come true! Her adventures are far from being over and she embraces each day with arms wide open, all while doing so with compassion, love and grace. 

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