"When we talked, it wasn't just about jobs or kids or where life had taken us. It was also about remembering who we used to be - those fearless, awkward, hopeful kids who thought the world was ahead of them. There's something grounding about being seen like that again, by the people who knew your firsts and loved you just as you were."
"Of course, there were a few people at the reunion I was nervous to see. High school can be complicated, and not all memories are good ones. But 40 years has a way of softening the edges. I quickly realized that the attendees knew me before life got complicated - before careers, before kids, before I started worrying about how I was "supposed" to show up in the world."
A 40th high school reunion evoked unexpectedly strong emotions as attendees recognized classmates who witnessed early life 'firsts'—first friendships, heartbreaks, independence, and belonging. Reconnecting prompted remembrance of youthful identities prior to careers, parenthood, and social expectations. Conversations reached beyond current careers and families to the fearless, awkward, hopeful selves from hallways, bleachers, and late-night phone calls. Long-buried memories resurfaced and softened difficult edges shaped by time. The reunion reinforced gratitude for relationships that helped lay foundational values and for the grounding experience of being seen as the person formed in those earliest years.
Read at Business Insider
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