Birds of a Feather

Proverbs 13:20

He who walks with the wise grows wise,

but a companion of fools suffers harm.

I bumped into a childhood friend in Target a few years ago and had a conversation that sticks with me to this day. This elementary school pal was one of a group of kids that I would've considered my best friends back then. A few moments into catching up, she told me that she heard "I only liked to hang out with "snooty" people and thought I was too good for folks from around the neighborhood." Wow! That hit me like a bag of nickels! First, I couldn't believe that someone who I hadn't seen in years would just come out and say that! I commend her for keeping it real, but could we show some discretion here?

My second reaction was to feel like the scum of the earth. I didn't think I acted high and mighty by any means, but then again I never kept in touch after leaving the school and only saw folks in passing. After I scraped my jaw off the floor, I was tempted to ask who told her that, but didn't and laughed it off with a, "Girl, you know how people talk!" Oddly enough, she felt like it was a good idea to keep the conversation going and told me about some of these mutual friends. Two were in jail, one was in a mental facility, several had multiple children by multiple fathers and many others, including this young lady, seemed to be sucking public assistance dry.

When it was time to say our goodbye's, I didn't offer to exchange phone numbers or do any of the phony "Let's keep in touch!" I walked away not feeling like scum, but glad that my mother did make a decision to send me to a different school. She changed the entire course of my life.

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I'm unapologetic that my inner circle is full of attorneys, nurses, educators, entrepreneurs, executives and the like. If it weren't, how could I continue to grow as a person? The wise will understand that and the unwise will call it "being snooty." But, as grandma always says, "Birds of a feather, flock together." That group of elementary school chums are still each others best friends today. That's one circle of trust I am proud to not be apart of!

Until Next Time,


Seek Wisdom, Find Wealth & Keep Good Company!