My Best Friend Had a Colonoscopy and I Was Really Excited.

When one of my bestest best friends told me she was having a colonoscopy, I immediately went into Chronic-Illness Dysfunctional-Empath Over-Achiever Best-Friend Mode.

On the day of her prep, I had only a half-day at work, so planned out our evening: 

• We'd Skype for all of the beginning, and then inbetween her bathroom trips.
• There were rewards for every cup of grossness that she had to drink, as well as for every time she had to go to the bathroom.  These rewards ranged from a video of a chick hopping through an obstacle course, to a feminist rant on the double standards of what society considers beautiful ending in "Do whatever the f*ck you want."
• We also had rules: every time she went to the bathroom I had to clean my apartment.  That way both of us would be doing something we didn't wanna, and happily coming back together at the end of it.
• And then there were the activities. Three kinds:
• The Beginning De-stressers: these were things like different psychology personality quizzes and more playful buzzfeed ones, which we'd take and then analyze the results together; I had a new lipstick and I waited to try it on so over Skype she could tell me what she thought; and then downloading a few apps I thought she'd enjoy.
• The Mid-Cycle Mind Games: These were activities that could be continued through texting while she was in the bathroom.  We've got Mad Libs, MASH, and a few different mind-strengthening apps that I thought could distract her from her discomfort.
• Lastly, The Agony Distractions: these ones are mostly apps, and I figured there'd be less on-camera time towards the end of the evening.  I also made sure these apps are less stressful; involving fewer explanations as the first wave did, and less strain on her brain as the second ones required.  These were mostly the pretty ones.  Also one of the first apps we downloaded was Neko Atsume, and at this point she could go back and check on her cats.  I wanted this to be simple, fun, and involving as little effort as possible.

I proooooooobably sent her close to a hundred things...?  (which come on....all the cute animal pages on Facebook?  It wasn't thaaat difficult.)  It just required a little effort, which if you know me at all, is something I don't mind in the least doing for someone I love.

I actually had two other bestest best friends ask me for advice on the same day, and I was in the clouds, I was so happy.  I love my friends more than anything, and being able to give them that love makes me happier than anything else.

Also come on.... Clearly I'm very good at this.  I slay at finding silver linings.  I've been dealing with this crap since I was eight.  All I want in life is to spend time making those I love happy.  And holy crab (not a typo), it's nice not to focus on my life for once!!

Friends often don't tell me their problems because they don't want to burden me with their load, but guys... That's not a friendship then; that's just charity.  Plus I wouldn't pick up more than I can carry, I promise, and after helping me with all of my baggage, please let me at least take yours out to the taxi.

And clearly my best friends see that I'm strong enough to help them carry their loads; which intern validates that I'm getting stronger.

The power of love is the greatest force there is.  It can heal, or it can destroy.  And after feeling the wrath of it's absence, getting to love people again, and giving that love, not just receiving it: it's liberating and makes me feel so alive :)

P.S. I made a post called "Heather's Guide to the Colonoscopy," if you care to give it a read.  (The title is hyperlinked or click here)