My Best Friend's Wedding Dance

One of my favorite things in life is seeing people of all ages, from 2 to 102, dancing together in one time and space. It's such a rare and beautiful moment when something can bring everyone together in celebration. 

This video captures moments of pure joy and the love of many of my closest childhood friends. I met the beautiful bride, Apryl, my freshman year of high school. I am so incredibly lucky to have found both a best friend and a role model in her. She is one of the kindest and most thoughtful people I know. She inspires me to be positive and generous in my thoughts and actions on a regular basis. I am so happy that she has found an equally warmhearted partner. 

Research on resilience has found that one of the main factors in resilience is having a secure, supportive relationship while growing up. The book Childhood Disrupted discusses how people who faced adversity growing up could offset one-third of the negative effects through a strong social support network. Apryl has been a huge part of that for me, and I am eternally grateful for her unwavering support and friendship. She not only does this for me, but all of her friends, her step-daughter, and the many under-privileged children she mentors through the Free Arts program.

Trying to accurately describe Apryl is like trying to hold sunlight in your hands. Apryl is the kind of person who will stay up all night dancing and singing to Spice Girls and Regina Spektor with you, who will paint you a portrait of your favorite sci-fi movie scene, who will go to the beach for your semi-regular girls trip (fiesta!) and only years later will you find out she hates beaches, who will listen and empathize with you during tough times, and who leaves everything brighter and better than she found it. 

I am even more grateful that she has found a life partner who can fill that same support role for her. Ryan is a caring individual who compliments Apryl so well. Ryan and Apryl amplify each others' positivity and enthusiasm. They are the kind of couple who will dress up as the four founders of Hogwarts with you for a Harry Potter Christmas Ball, who will let you late night text vent to them about your bike being stolen and then surprise you with a new bike at work just a few days later, and who will leave every bar, restaurant, and event with at least three new friends. Thank you so much for including me in your special day, I can't wait to see what the future has in store for you!