Friends and Family

A blessing and a curse.

by Katie Welker

My best friend said something to me earlier that really stuck with me:

You love so intensely. You love so deeply, and so much. Maybe it’s a good thing that now you’re just content with things and are putting in a normal amount. Maybe now you won’t get so hurt.

She’s right. I love with everything that I have. I know no other way. But by just putting in 100 percent, rather than the 1,000 that I typically lay on the table, am I doing myself a disservice? Am I doing the person on the other end a disservice?

It’s a question that I’m not sure I know the answer to. Each time I have loved another, I have given that 1,000 percent without hesitation. I was head over heels. I shouted it from the roof tops and I displayed it for the world to see because I was proud and happy of the people that I loved.

They say you never fall in love the same way twice, and I believe it. But does that mean you settle for the, ‘oh that was nice’ rather than the, ‘I just cannot get enough of him’? Are those deeply-rooted feelings of love, passion and eagerness something that grows over time? Or is it something that you’re supposed to feel right away?

If you have the answers, fill me in. If not, here is what I have learned through my years of acting on my favorite ‘I love love’ motto:

  • Love the ones who treat you right. If there are toxic people in your life (negative, belittling, condescending, degrading individuals who just make your blood boil), get rid of them. You are better than that. Unless you are one of those people, in which case you should do us all a favor and start smiling and recognize that there is so much to be grateful for.
  • Live each day with love. Maybe that means having a meaningful conversation (no, not a string of text messages, actual face-to-face conversations) with your parents. Perhaps it means saying yes to that date, or ignoring the silence in the elevator and striking up a conversation instead. Love your family. Love your friends. And above all else, love yourself, appreciate yourself and recognize that your opportunities are limitless.

But most importantly…

  • Stop living life so fast. Do not worry about what will happen in two weeks when today is not even half way over. It will drive you nuts. It will waste your time. Live for now. And make now a moment to remember.

Thank you will never be enough

by Katie Welker

Today I had my very last cheerleading banquet. It was the epitome of bittersweet. My parents were able to come, I helped surprise my best friend and have her Dad, who lives 6 hours away, show up without her knowing it, and I was able to enjoy time with a group of girls that have become my best friends and easily my strongest source of memories from my college career.

My team, including my coach, have been with me through it all. They have laughed with me (and at me… on numerous occasions, including today…), celebrated with me during personal victories, carried me through my struggles, defended me against all odds, and never once, despite all unthinkable circumstances, left me to fight through this crazy life by myself. There is nothing that brings me more satisfaction than to know that I can think back on my college experience and know that it was filled with people who gave me such wonderful intangible gifts.

So this one is to you – my teammates, my best friends, my sisters, my family. No amount of words published on my little blog could ever express what you have given me, especially this year. One of my favorite quotes is, “how lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard” – and that is more relevant now than ever before. For what it’s worth, my time with each one of you is something that I will never forget. My heart is full of appreciation and gratitude for the love that I have for each of you and the memories that we have made together. Although ‘thank you’ will never come close to being enough… I’ll say it anyway. Thank you. For the memories, the laughs, the tears, the commitment, the long talks, and for the friendships that are so rare to come by these days, yet so beautiful and genuine. I will cherish them forever. Thank you.