I took a bit to post this. Yesterday was a long day of work and managing pain. Eleven years ago I met a woman that was vivacious and hardworking. She was incredibly intimidating but her warm disposition made the intimidation factor melt rapidly. We were friendly for quite some time and once I finally became serious about my career I turned to her. I asked her to be my mentor as I needed one desperately and without a second thought she told me to come and try working for her.
I was a Journalism major but quickly learned that if I wanted to eat, I had better look at all the ways a journalism career could be stretched. I shifted gears and went right into a career in marketing as a Community Manager and Copy Writer for her company; York Management, Inc.
I could go through the years and see how much she’s impacted me and what we went through from professional to personal experiences that we shared and / or supported one another through because at one point in the midst of it all we became sisters and that is a bond much stronger than I ever imagined sharing with her.
She’s taught me my “workaholic” / “playaholic” ways. She lifted me up when I would fall in both arenas and has shown me what friendship truly is. As well as, how women can and do support other women.
She’s the kindest soul and does more than anyone could ever know or fathom. She’d truly lay across a fire for the people she loves; that list could be a blog post in itself but once again, I’ll spare you the details of the loyal list she has in her heart.
Thinking of my life without her in it brings tears to my eyes and heavy feeling to my heart.
It reminds me of the day we met and all that changed in my life within those years brings her into each step I took when I started my own business, when I left a bad relationship, when I was ill without diagnosis, by my side as I married the love of my life, and right into life today.
It’s not too often that we can find a sister in a stranger but I know that it was meant to be or God wouldn’t have brought her into my life and gave her the role that she has in my life and in so many other’s.
She’s a gift that never stops giving and that’s what makes her vivacious spirit shine so bright.
Celebrating her birthday last night when I felt sick wasn’t my best move but it was one that I’ll never miss.
A birthday is significant to the person celebrating it but it’s also significant to the people that want to celebrate that person and as expected, it was a packed house.
The things we do every day build into a bigger plan; which includes being a force that can change and shape the lives so many others.
The echo of your life from all the good you do is the one thing that we leave behind in this world before we go to another. So make those ripples the best that you can for as long as you can.
Written to celebrate the one and only, Tonya York Dees.
Leave a Reply