It’s scary right? Letting someone in so close that they might see the real you? Wouldn’t it be easier to keep everyone at arm’s length, close enough that your lives touch, but never weave together? Wouldn’t it be easier to convince everyone that you are already the person you want to be if you never let them get close to see the truth?

When you honestly embrace anther’s life with your own, you’re taking a chance. When you invite people into your home- when you leave the door cracked and know they might come on in- you’re taking a chance.

You’re taking a chance that they may see you are not yet fully what you someday hope to be.

You’re taking a chance that they’ll laugh with you and not at you.

You’re taking a chance that they won’t judge you for the many mistakes you continue to make and the questions you still have.

You’re taking a chance that your loud kid, your funny husband, and your big mouth won’t be too much for them to handle.

You’re taking a chance that if there’s a sudden mystery odor in your home, they’ll believe you when you say it didn’t smell like that an hour ago. (Seriously, what is that smell and where is it coming from?)

You’re taking a chance that if you accidentally spill every insecurity you’ve ever had, they’ll see it as an opportunity to love you more.

You’re taking a chance that when you are the first one to cry, it won’t be perceived as weakness.

You’re taking a chance that who you are today is already enough for a genuine friendship with other people.

When you invite people into your home, your life, your inner circle- you’re taking a chance that they’ll see the real you and know that they can be themselves, too. Sometimes you find out who your people are not, but every now and then you forge a lifelong friendship. You find that a mismatched crew can be bound by doing real life together. That, my friends, is a gift. It is not common, it is never to be taken for granted, and it absolutely requires taking a chance, but when it happens- really happens- you’ll know that you’ve found your people.