There’s something sacred about friendship. The kind that spans years, changes with time, survives distance, and still feels like home when you meet up again.
By the time I pulled up to our hotel in Boston, and saw Omar waiting in the lobby. His legs crossed, with his sunglasses on (there was no sun in sight), I knew a good time was about to be had. The anticipation of planning was over—we were here, and I knew joy and fun was on the agenda.
Our weekend was full of music, food, walking, and more walking (the Fitbit said fifteen miles in one day, to be exact). By the end, our feet—not to mention this knee of mine— were screaming, our legs aching, and yet we laughed through every moment of it. We stretched, iced, and even put our feet up the wall like old athletes recovering from one too many games. That laughter, in our exhaustion, was the highlight. It further reiterated that joy is not about what you’re doing, but who you’re with.
For me, male friendships have always been nurturing. Omar is one of the longest friendships I still actively have, and he continues to be a sounding board and safe space. With him, I can be fully me. I feel valued, guided, corrected when I need it, supported when I deserve it—and I offer the same in return. That’s the only way friendship works: reciprocity.
On this trip, I realized something deeper. As a woman, I’m usually hyper-aware of my surroundings. But in Boston, I noticed that with Omar I let that go. I trusted his sense of direction, his presence, his leadership. When he asked me on day four if I knew where something was, I laughed and admitted I hadn’t been paying attention. I was content to let him lead, which has been rare for me—but I am in a new era. And instead of making me feel foolish, he said he appreciated that I trusted him. That moment was healing in itself—it’s a beautiful thing to feel safe enough to let someone else hold the map.
Friendship doesn’t require perfection. It requires presence, honesty, and the ability to let each other be. Omar and I have gone years without talking, but we always find our way back. We were roommates in college, and the core of our relationship hasn’t changed since then. Now, as adults, we’ve both grown, matured, and learned—but the laughter, the honesty, the “locker talk,” the support—it’s all still there.
I love my girlfriends deeply—they pour into me in ways I need. But I also value my guy friends, like Omar, who offer a different perspective, a different energy, a different kind of healing. There are no heavy expectations in friendship. We’re not each other’s boss, spouse, or parent. We just get to show up as ourselves and give each other space to be. That, I believe, is what makes friendship so powerful.
Boston reminded me of this truth: we all need people who bring out our laughter, ground us when we’re tired, and help us see the world differently. For me, that weekend was a testament to the healing power of friendship.
Because at the end of the day, true friends don’t just walk beside us—they help carry us through life.
BTW: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb
We’d like to hear from you. What does friendship mean to you? Feel free to express your love for a friend in the comments.
P.S: Tomorrow, catch the full video on my YouTube channel where Omar and I take you inside our Boston weekend.
Other Post You May Enjoy:
Los Cabos: A 50th Birthday Celebration
Discover more from Life In AD
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
2 Comments. Leave new
I don’t normally make comments on posts… but this touched my soul!!! I have a male best friend that’s been strictly platonic for over 20 years and all of this sounds like us!!!!! He actually sent me this post. So my comment is a question lol… do either of you get grief and accused of at one point being more than friends while dating people? Like is it hard to date and keep your opposite gendered friend for yall? This has become a struggle for us the older we get. People say male and female can’t be solely platonic friends but I’m seeing it in yall and I’ve lived it for over 20 years. I love that you’re sharing your friendship… it should be normalized to have platonic opposite gendered friends, because I love mine to the grave that’s my family!!!!
I am so glad you took the time to read the post and you relate. I have not been accused in my past. To be perfectly honest, the couple past partners in my past, he also went to school with (so I think that help). My spouse now has met him and knew our history and never seemed to have a problem with it. I agree with you. There are a lot of things that should be normalized, especially when it comes to the simplicity of love, connection, friendship. We are definitely family!!!