I went back to the gym club during June 2021 when the pandemic officially adjusted to level four lockdown regulations. I trained at a hotel mini gym and at a friend's home gym during quarantine, so I was relieved to be able to resume my membership. During levels one to three, I had frozen my membership. On the day I returned, I was faced with a mountain of paperwork to reactivate my account. It took longer than I had anticipated and cut into my training time, which was irritating and made me feel flustered. I was not in the best mood when I eventually got to the changing room, and that's when a stranger approached me and remarked that it looked as though I was ready to move in, to which I responded, "Jokes are meant to be funny!" Her first impression of me was not the best, to say the least, and she made a concerted effort to avoid me from then on. I didn't care or notice and went on with my daily exercises unperturbed.
Weeks later, whilst relaxing in the sauna, we randomly started chatting, and I learnt that her name is Thandeka and that she had the same training times as I did, which led to us becoming friendlier. We somehow made plans to meet up and go on an outing, and that was the start of a friendship that I didn't know that I needed. Since then we have done a multitude of things, like shopping, eating out, mountain hiking, spa appointments, hotel visits, beach hopping, taking the train to the countryside and scenic road trips together. She has surprised me with the sweetest, most thoughtful things, like popping in at my house unannounced to gift me with a new gym bag, hosting me on my birthday and preparing my favourite meal, taking me to a music concert for Xmas, and the list goes on as our adventures have undoubtedly brought us closer by creating memories that will last a lifetime. We have become good friends, and I have discovered that we share many commonalities, such as being May-born, following a vegetarian diet, and having a mutual appreciation for nature. Additionally, we possess similar tastes, styles and outlooks on life. Our shared interests have not only strengthened our bond but also enriched my life in ways I could not have foreseen. I admire her courage and ambition; not only has she overcome many obstacles in life, but she also excels in a male-dominated field. She is the human definition of the term "dynamite comes in small packages", as she may be petite, but her tenacity inspires me to push my own boundaries and strive for greatness in my pursuits as she so effortlessly does in all of hers. Together, we continue to support one another, celebrating each achievement, no matter how small, as a testament to our treasured connection. She is strong, fun, sophisticated and has grace, charm, impeccable style, and the ability to hold intellectually stimulating conversations with ease. Her presence lights up any room, and her laughter is contagious, which creates a warm and inviting atmosphere that I value.
We don’t keep track of each other, nor do we talk every single day, but when we do catch up, we easily pick up right where we left off. This is the kind of dynamic that I truly cherish and as we navigate our individual lives, I am continually reminded of the strength found in friendship. It is this type of resilience that helps to make each day feel more surmountable. With the fun we have together and each new memory that we make, I find myself appreciating the beauty of our honesty and the joy of having someone like her present and ready for anything. These are a few of the many reasons why I'll always have time for T.
Time for T by EJ for EJblogtv
an Enjoyment Journal about Everything EJ
xoxo