“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.’”
C.S. Lewis
I like birthdays. I really do. Probably because mine starts a few weeks after New Years and I get even more motivated towards and oriented towards what I want and how I can get it. Maybe that’s just the Aquarian in me but it is what it is haha.
Birthdays have also been a time of reflection for me. This year, in between my travels, I found myself thinking deeply about the concept of family. I’ve had a very interesting life I’ll say. I was at home with family till 8th class and then moved to a boarding school from 9th to 12th – and then during my undergrad and have been out ever since.
For me, family was never about the people I was born into, it became more about the connections I build along the way. It’s about the people we meet and how easily we gel with them.
Living far from home can be challenging. It’s easy to feel the weight of distance, to long for the warmth of familiar faces and places. Yet, it’s also an opportunity to create something beautiful: a chosen family. Over the years, I’ve made many friends—some good, some not so good, and a handful who feel like home. These are the people who know me, who see me as I am, and with whom I can simply be.
This year, something amazing happened. A group of my closest friends—some of whom had never met each other—came together to celebrate my birthday. I won’t lie, I was surprised when everyone agreed to meet in Phoenix, Arizona for my birthday. They traveled from Houston, San Francisco, Seattle, and we all gathered in Phoenix for a weekend that was well – full of great memories.
At first, I wasn’t sure how it would go. Out of the six of us, I was the only common thread, the only one who had met everyone before. But as the we all met, it all went away. It was as if these friends had known each other for years. Conversations flowed effortlessly, laughter echoed through the house, and we all found ourselves sinking into a sense of ease that can only come from true connection.
We spent our days playing board games—Catan was a favorite, with the experts among us teaching the rest. We talked about everything and nothing, sharing stories, jokes, and moments that felt both simple and profound. It wasn’t a grand, over-the-top celebration; it was something better. It was relaxing, meaningful, and full of warmth.
What struck me the most was how rare and precious it is to have a group of people who can come together like this. These friends, who had no reason to know each other beyond me, came together and created something so natural, so genuine. It reminded me that friendship, much like family, is not about proximity or shared history—it’s about trust, understanding, and the freedom to be yourself.
As I sat there, surrounded by people who mean so much to me, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Life abroad has taught me that while distance from home can be hard, it also opens the door to new connections, to building a family of choice. And this year, I felt the depth of that truth more strongly than ever. It’s crazy that it’s only January but I couldn’t have asked for a better start to the year. Started off with some of my close friends in New York followed by the Arizona birthday trip – thank you all!
I am grateful for the people in my life who make it richer, who show up, and who let me be myself. This birthday was not just about celebrating another year—it was about celebrating the friendships that have carried me through so much.
As I move forward, I carry this gratitude with me, a reminder of how lucky I am to have a group of friends who feel like home, no matter where we are.
Here’s to chosen families, to connection, and to the moments that remind us of what really matters.
Thank you for reading. I’d love to hear your thoughts on what friendship means to you. Have you ever experienced moments like this that made you stop and reflect? Share your stories in the comments—I’d love to connect.
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