Live Positive Way

Blogging about some personality has become my latest passion and this time it's not just one person but about a special group of friends in my life.

There is a popular saying, "Two is company and three is a crowd", but can you imagine a group of 22 girls being together yet very comfortable with each other and going strong in a bond of Friendship? Yes, you heard it right. 

We are 22 in number! We met on this same day, 2nd February in the year 2015. So today is our 'Friendiversary' (Friends Anniversary).

You may think what is so special in that? We do stay in groups in school, colleges, or even in office and at the place we reside. True! I don't deny the fact but we are a group of girls who came together for a common cause, 'to empower ourselves and bring some value addition to our lives'. This bundle of friends met on this day three years back to qualify themselves as the 'Special Educators'.

When I agree that we do have a strong group of friends at school/college/workplace, there was always a competition between/among them, though it was not quite visible, but it still existed. I remember my school/college friends comparing their scores with each other (even the best buddies) and at times seen unappreciative about their fellow buddy's good scores. Do you remember the famous '3 Idiots' movie dialogue? "Dost fail ho jaye toh dukh hota hai. Lekin dost first aa jaye toh zyada dukh hota hai" (It feels bad when a friend fails but it feels even worse when he comes first). Hope everyone agrees to this. I know, with age, we became much matured but can't deny the fact that we had a tough competition then. In the case of Office buddies, the period of 'appraisal' becomes a nightmare and it will be a litmus test for that friendship. I have even heard a few friends falling apart due to that. At times even a Job rotation can bring in bitterness in a friendship with a colleague.

We, the gang of 22, are so unique in every way. On the first day of our 2+ months course, we met in the evening before winding up our session, on that very first day, I experienced a feeling of 'oneness'. I and my other group-mates collected all the phone numbers and email ids to form a WhatsApp group and we just kicked off like we were together for ages. Have never felt we are 22 different 'individuals' present there but felt like just 'one' blended team. We had same opinions, same thoughts and same solutions. I remember and recollect that our "Course Coordinator" too appreciated our 'oneness' and she admitted that she did not come across such a closely-knitted batch before.

We always wholeheartedly appreciated the efforts put in by each and every individual in the class. There was never a single criticism about anyone, no gossips about a fellow teammate and absolutely no backbiting. On a few occasions, if some of our mates present their ideas in the way of singing/dancing, everyone in the class will get involved and it eventually turns out to be a whole class activity. None felt bad presenting our views openly and every one of us helped each other in our projects and presentations.

You may feel it is quite natural since we come together with a common motto but all 22 people being there intact with each other is not that easy since every individual has their own personality. Even if some of them were introverts and not active in social life but still they were so active and open within this particular group.

The enjoyment that I get and the comfort that I have with these 21 friends is something very special and unique. They even had the privilege of calling me by my Nickname 'Sugan' since the first day of our course (we normally allow only our close friends to call by our Nickname). We are not able to meet so often due to our personal commitments and mostly connected through WhatsApp and Facebook but I am sure the day we meet up we will start from where we left. Together, for two months, we learned a lot from each other. In terms of affinity, they are even ahead of my many other friends' group that I am associated with since my childhood and hence they are so special to me. 

Today being our groups 'Friendiversary' I wish to dedicate this blog post to my Dearies, my Lovely Ladies - My MDA Batchmates. Once again you girls are so special to me and I love you all my beauties.

Stay connected, always!

- Suganthi Sankaran