THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP LEADS TO APPRECIATION!

As I’m writing this, I’m enjoying myself in Charleston, a place I have been obsessively wanting to visit for a few years now. I have heard and read so much about the place, a beautiful southern charm city with a lot of history, architecture, colorful buildings. and quite marvelous array of phenomenal restaurants.  What I absolutely love though is the Southern dialect and a form of thanking people. Instead of “Thank you” they say, “I appreciate you.” And as I hear this repeatedly, it dawns on me, it is absolutely the best way to thank someone. As a chef and educator, appreciating someone for their service, patronage, and gratitude is SO important, it’s what is keeping us going. Appreciating someone sounds so much nicer than just thanking them.

Furthermore, this month is the beginning of the holiday season with everyone’s favorite, Thanksgiving, a month during which we celebrate friendship and family, planning Friendsgiving and family feasts. I’m also thrilled to report, that I was asked to co-author, with a dozen wonderful authors, a book called Daily Gift of Friendship, which is the fifth book for the Daily Gift book series and will be coming out in mid-November by the Authentic Endeavors Publishing and owner Teresa Velardi, just in time for the holidays. The book gathers stories of different types of friendships, friends who helped each other during the darkest days, friends who are there for each other for better or worse. Lost friendships that were lost over the years but then luckily were rekindled, or a friend who from the first second of a meet up, became the closest confidant. 

For me personally, I’m blessed to have an amazing circle of friends who are always there for me and vice versa, without whom my life wouldn’t be complete. That circle is tight and my rock, and we truly appreciate each other.

This is when oldie but goodie expressions “Less is More” and “Quality vs. Quantity” come in handy. Friendship cannot be faked; it comes naturally to our existence. Friendship cannot be forced and must be agreed by both sides. 

I want to wish every single one of you to feel appreciated by your friends, friends who truly care for you and appreciate you for your existence.  I’m leaving you with this quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, “Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.”

Happy friendships and Happy gobble gobble day! Cheers! Until next month!

La Dolce Vita!!