Terms of Endearment

I love random questions!  I have multiple conversation cubes like Table Topics around my house, and I have nothing short of a small library of books full of questions.  I enjoy the way they can start conversation, cause laughter, or make you think.  And I love to learn about other people—new acquaintances or people I’ve known my entire life.  I find that these compilations of questions can easily inspire dialogue.  And, well, I’m never short on an opinion and I love to talk! SCORE!

So in conversation recently with one of my best friends, I was asked to describe them in ONE word.  ONE word… ONE word to sum up an entire individual? I’m usually quick with a reply, but this was going to require some thought.  I love words too… so finding just the right one was going to be important to me.  Suffice it to say that I’ve spent a good amount of time typing words into Google to assess the definition, consider synonyms, and try to arrive at the perfect word to capture the essence of a pretty amazing individual.

In this process, I realized that I have a small number—a handful really—of truly incredible, loyal, and encouraging friends. Now, I know a lot of people.  I’m Facebook friends with hundreds.  But acquaintances, friends, and true friends are different.  And best friends, at least for me, are few and far between…. and I’m okay with that.

I’m pretty good with names and faces.  I try to make folks I interact with feel special.  But, truth be told, I’m reserved when it comes to letting people in.  Don’t get me wrong—I appear to be an open book.  I’m vocal, opinionated, and can rock a fake extrovert persona with the best of them. (Yes, I’m truly an introvert. Shocking, I know!)

I certainly could stop and think before I speak more often as it is a daily occurrence that I think, “Crap.  I just said that out loud.”  Maybe my mental regulator to control the thoughts I think from coming out my mouth is broken.  Oh well.

I wouldn’t say I’m overly private about my life, but I am protective and reserved about the most vulnerable parts of me… at least with those outside that tight group of people I consider BFFs.

So as I was considering the entire world of Merriam-Webster to describe this one BFF, it occurred to me that those I hold closest in my life have many of the same qualities… that I would utilize, by and large, the same words to describe each of them.  Of course there are unique qualities and idiosyncrasies to them individually, but I am clearly attracted to some specific qualities.  But… I needed to arrive at ONE word that could capture all of the fabulous that this person represents to me.

I’ve slept on it.  I don’t know that this is the PERFECT choice (what’s perfect anyway?), but I am satisfied with it.  Sometimes you just have to make a decision and commit.  This isn’t a life-altering decision after all.  I’m pretty sure that the Earth will still rotate and the tides will still rise.  But it is important for me to let this person know how special they are, how much I love them, and how I value their place in my life… which makes selecting just ONE word seem pretty damn important.

So the word I’ve chosen…

ENDEARING

…inspiring love or affection; to make dear, esteemed, or beloved

…lovable, adorable, cute, sweet, dear, delightful, lovely, charming, appealing, attractive, engaging, winning, captivating, enchanting, beguiling, winsome, embraceable, kissable, beloved, cherished, favored, favorite, loved, treasured, attractive, beautiful, desirable, lovely, alluring, appealing, captivating, charming, enchanting, engaging, entrancing, fascinating, fetching, admirable, likeable, reputable, respectable, affable, agreeable, cheerful, cordial, friendly, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, kind, nice, pleasant, delightful, pleasing, well-disposed

I can’t imagine a BFF that isn’t these things.  And mine (all of them actually) meet this description.

I can only hope that I am as endearing to them as they are to me!