mstakenidentity | What friends have taught me

I've been thinking recently about the idea that everyone has something to teach, or that I can learn something from everyone. I started thinking about it because I was brooding about Eliza (it's her birthday on Wednesday, drat her, and I can't seem to forget the date, which means I think about her every time I look at next week's roster) Two years ago I wrote a post in which I mentioned the things she taught me (mainly- not to be her.) While the lesson she taught me was hard, and was not taught by her willingly (or not with my benefit in mind) I started thinking about all the things friends have taught me that were lessons given willingly and happily for my benefit, whether they were knowingly giving a lesson or not.

This list is not conclusive, and I'll probably come back and add to it many times over the next week.

Things my friends have taught me

Seamus: To love and be loved without fear and with total trust
Andrea: To make bread
Elena: To sing "Sweet Kate" and not be afraid to sing properly in front of a friend
Lisa: To make marmalade
Kitty: To play with harmonies
Helen: To act, to get the very best out of my acting
Shayne: That strong friendships can be formed in a few in depth conversations topped up with ten minute chats
Sarah: To not underestimate my own strength
Eva: That nurture and love and kindness make you shine and are the strongest antideppressants I know
Kate: That conflict can be healthy and even if it's scary it's good to disagree with your partner/family/friend sometimes
Anna (J): To felt and craft with abandon
Erica: That "all that Roman stuff" that comes after the 5th century BC is actually interesting
James: To play beach cricket, even when hungover
Lauren: That survival of evil is not just possible- it's pleasurable
Mark: That route learning has it's place (First declension! Second declension!)
Liam: To eat the skin on kiwi fruits
Hannah: To make potato rounds with eggs for dinner when feeling financially poor and needing comfort food
Michael: To listen and remain calm
Andy: The cryptic crossword is not to be feared
Penny: To make mint jelly and strawberry jam
Penelope: The wonders of tapestry
Molly: That I can think laterally in an emergency (eg. finding an English-speaking chiropractor who makes house calls on a Sunday in Rome? No problem!)
Andrew (Fin): To sign off emails that are between formal and informal "Cheers"
Anna (A-C): To cook 2 minute noodles in a microwave
Rachael: To be more thoughtful and considerate
Daniel (Yeowie): To turn while ice-skating and not fear falling over

No where near finished, but it'll do for present.