Joy from Friendship!

I am so very blessed to have such a great group of colleagues and FRIENDS to work with every day! They all bring me so much Joy!
I have been having a difficult year both personally and professionally. There have been many times where I have found myself choking back tears or trying to quickly dry my eyes before my students entered the classroom. In short, I have been a Hot Mess!
I am truly convinced that if it was not for each and every one of these people I would not make it through this school year. They each bring something to my life and help me become a better person.
Jennifer is my true "soul sister"! She knows and understands me better than anyone I have ever met. She reads my thoughts and my emotions perfectly. What I appreciate the most is that she does this without judgement. I feel safe telling her even my worst thoughts and feelings because she will listen and understand without questioning my integrity. She is a true friend and she sings back to me the tune in my heart when I have forgotten the words! She helps me find who I am and make sure that I am on the right path. My soul would be lost without her.
Steph is my other sister. If we were boys, I truly could call her my "Brother From Another Mother"! We love each other unconditionally and she understands where I am coming from. She understands my struggles and reassures me when I need support. We have so much fun together and share so many laughs! She keeps my soul happy!
Mary is my wise friend who makes me better by simply being around her! She has a calm and peaceful nature that can calm me down in my most heated moments. Mary inspires me with her quiet resilience that says, no matter what adversity she may encounter, she will continue forward with the same purpose and composure. She has an aura about her that fills me with happiness and tranquility. She loves to laugh and the sound of her laughter brings me joy! She keeps my soul at peace!
Vicki is like my guardian angel! When I need help or I need advice or I just need someone to shelter and protect me, Vicki is there. She listens to me and gives me advice to keep me on the right path. She tells me when I need to fix things or when I have messed up. She guides me down the right path and keeps in on track. My soul would be headed the wrong direction without her!
Linda feeds my optimistic spirit. I can't be in a bad mood around her because she is such a happy and positive person. She cares so deeply for others and gives of herself fully. She would do absolutely anything for me. She is so thoughtful and compassionate that she inspires me to continue to find the good in the world. Linda gives me hope that even in times of true adversity, there will always be happiness! Without Linda, my soul would become jaded and cynical!
Cory is who I want to be. The qualities that he possesses are everything that I aspire to. He is so matter of fact when I want to beat around the bush, he is always glass half full when I want to see it as empty. He holds the strongest sense of character and integrity when I am doing wrong. He is a mirror of who I hope to be. Cory keeps my soul striving to be better.
How can I NOT find Joy when I am inspired by the most AWESOME people ever!!!!