September 10, 2014

Rocks.





























Sometimes, our best friends abandon us. On the surface, it appears to be because of something superficial, but there are always deeper issues lurking below the rocky surface. These cracks in the foundation of a friendship can go unnoticed for years, but eventually, usually when one of the players evolves, the foundation crumbles.

It's painful. 

We can compromise our integrity and beg them not to go; it won't do any good though. After all, they are only doing what they believe is right for them. We must rise above the waves and move on.  It isn't until calm waters return that we realize our friends never abandoned us: they set us free.



57 comments:

  1. Well said and illustrated! Could not have said it better and there is usually a felling of lightness when we realize it.

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  2. It hurts knowing that they have been privy to our deepest, darkest secrets (vice versa) with promises of being together forever, until life happens. Then we see that they were put in our path for a reason, and just like life we realize that everything is temporary. What we do keep is the gratitude that, at one point, they were in our life and then we smile.

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    1. Yes, it's important to remember the good things. And there were many!

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  3. AMAZING drawing! Very inspirational and TRUE. Been there!

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    1. It seems to be resonating with a few people. Thanks for the compliment on my drawings, Jennifer. I appreciate it very much.

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  4. You've "illustrated" this beautifully, Jc. This hits a bit close to home (especially over the past year), but as Lynn stated above, there is a feeling of lightness when we realize it and let it go.

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    1. Thank-you Sherree. I'm sorry it hits close to home...I hug thee!

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  5. That was really good. I mean painful thoughts, but well-expressed through art.

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    1. Just that fact that you're here commenting is a huge compliment.

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  6. Just love your way of telling life through stories :-)

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    1. I've carrying this one around with me for a couple of months. I'm glad it's out.

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  7. I sit here, nodding my head. Yes.

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  8. There are so many nuances to the idea of what a loyal friend should be, but ultimately, a truly loyal friend has your back always and tries their best never to let you down. Sometimes, our best friends abandon us. Then, we realize that it is we that abandoned them… Sometimes, in the end, everyone is set free.

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    1. Well said Roxanne. There are always 2 sides to a story...

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  9. Such a turning point in anyone's life and so beautifully illustrated (as always).

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  10. You have such a gift for turning a story into the most wonderful illustrations. Friendships stopping or going away is so very very hard and hurts so deeply. It is so hard to understand why they go away or stop and it hurts to realize why. I'm the end like you said it does set us free. {HUGS} friendships ending hurts too more {HUGS} for you.

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    1. Thanks Carrie. I wanted to step away from actual events; that would serve no one. Illustrating it as a sweet story helped me a lot. I'm glad it's striking a chord with some folks.

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  11. Oh my goodness. You took my breath away. I'm at the verge of tears. Love this so much and sending you loads of love. LOADS of it.

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  12. I think what we forget to do is to be introspective, and honestly ask ourselves, was it something I did? If you can truly answer no, then you can let the friend go, with no regrets. Our paths don't always run in the same direction.

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  13. That's beautiful JC. Wow, yes. What a lovely way of looking at it. So moving.

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  14. Wow. This brought tears to my eyes. So simple, so beautiful.

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  15. This speaks to my heart! Thank you, JC.

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  16. I don't like that they crumble into the sea when we separate, prefer to think that they go on to a different sunset.....losing friends is tough, but I don't want them to crumble without me, if they do that then I wasn't a good friend to them! Love the essence of this tho. Next book?

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    1. It's the relationship that crumbles. But to your point, I have to say it matters not a jot how good a friend one was; if they're going to crumble it's more to do with them than you.

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    2. Ah, the rock is the friendship, not the friend? makes more sense :)

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    3. Perhaps I should make this a book...hmmm.

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    4. Yes, so sad when friendships turn... Maybe a door to the rear end or a big puffy cloud blowing them into the sunset. People are so unpredictable and immature. Only 1 who sticks and never changes. Thank God for forgiveness hey, for all if us.

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    5. Yes! make more books! not sure if its a flattering thing or not, but in our house they are toilet books so far :)

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  17. Thank you for this. My best friend and I broke up years ago. It was like I couldn't do anything right, ever, but then when I stepped away, she couldn't figure out why. It's hard, losing people. And hard, moving on. I liked this cartoon and especially your words at the end. XO

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    1. That's a difficult situation...I think sometimes we are hardest on the people closest to us. Our unhappiness with our lot in life manifests as rage against those we love. It's possible this was the case with your friend?

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  18. So well illustrated with pictures and words. (How they are your rock and then they are not). I'm sorry for the breakup but smiling for your lift into the sky.

    xo

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    1. So many metaphors, right? Thanks so much for coming to have a peek Kir <3

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  19. HOLY I needed this! Thank you. Brilliant.

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  20. Wow JC! This is incredible. Just beautiful and so very, very true.

    Awesome!

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  21. JC, this is beautiful and so right on. Thank you.

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  22. This made tears squirt out of my eyes horizontally, I cried so hard.

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  23. And sometimes we are the ones in the boat and we are tied to rocks trying to drag us down. We grab the scissors and break free.

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  24. Wow! I needed to see this as I am still mourning the death of a friendship. Thank you :)

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  25. Oh my, that is so sad and true and awesome. Thank you.

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Cuz You Rocketh.