Do you remember the thrill of your first crush, or the loyalty of your first true best friend? This week on the What a Gift podcast, Jule and Sarra are diving deep into the relationships that shape us: the intense friendships that stand the test of time and the pining that gives life a plot line.

🎁 WHAT’S INSIDE 🎁

The Gift of Best Friends

We unwrap the gift of best friends and what distinguishes them from regular friends. Sarra discusses her philosophy of having a "squad" of best friends (both long-distance and local), sharing her past longing for a singular, "ride or die" best friend, particularly due to moving often as a Navy family kid. Jule recounts the difficult experience of "bestie culture," including the competitive "showboating" and the anxiety around the MySpace Top 8. She shares her feelings of sadness and getting "crazy" when her friend Anna spent time with others. The hosts discuss the defining traits of a best friend, including standing the test of time and being a person with whom you can "just pick up where you left off". We explore how true friendship allows for differences. 

The Gift of Crushes

We explore the gift of the crush and the "electric possibility" of early romance. Sarra introduces her friend Taylor's three-stage crush evolution: starting with a squish, moving to a crinkle, and finally, becoming a full-on crush. Jule shares her story of the crush that defined her early life: Matt McGee, who attended her "eclectic" fifth-grade homeschool group. Hear the full story of the Valentine's Day exchange: Jule recounts praying the most earnest prayer of her life to pull Matt's name, then building a complex, 3D, "Victorian era" Valentine before having an "episode" and ripping it up due to fear of social suicide. She replaced it with a cartoon frog and the rhyme, "Ice is cool and so are you". The true gift was receiving Matt’s card, which featured two porcupines and the message: "Juliana, you make me feel like a fool. You are so smart. You found a way to steal my heart". Jule reflects on the years of unrequited pining and the unique gift of dreaming, concluding that when it's the right person, the relationship is so easy.

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