we met on a bus. during freshman orientation. i told her i was a dancer. she laughed. and right then, she knew we would be friends. so did i. and what do you know, we are friends indeed. i am not really sure why i said i was a dancer. i do love to dance. but a dancer? really jeff? it probably came out wrong. i was awkward back then. and larissa made me nervous. she is gorgeous after all. we joke around that i am only friends with her because she is beautiful. haha. and she is only friends with me because of my charming personality. needless to say, i am not friends with larissa merely because of her dashing good looks. nope. my appreciation and love for her is seeded much deeper. 

larissa is one of those people who is authentic. she is honest and real. she cares deeply for her friends and is never too busy or too far away to be there for them when they need her. she gives without expecting anything in return and serves wholeheartedly in everything thing she does. she is the type of friend who would drive 3 hours in traffic to be at a birthday party for a longtime friend and drive back the same night. no wonder she is always the maid-of-honor. people adore larissa. she lives life with a sort of freedom and appreciation that is uncanny. she always says to me, “Jeff you can sleep when you die” or “you only live once.” i like this about her. not only that, but she exudes a sort of confidence and contentment in who she is. she owns it and pushes others to do the same. larissa cares so deeply for the people around her not because she wants to be liked, or have lots of friends, or so they love her back. no, she loves selflessly, humbly, beautifully, honestly, and deeply because she know she is called to. she loves like Jesus. she doesn’t judge, condemn, point fingers, or lecture. she embraces, holds, welcomes, and encourages in such a unique, and Christ-like way.

when i think about the ways in which i have learned and grown as a result of larissa, the items on the list are seemingly countless. she has taught me what friendship means and looks like in the purest and most genuine form. how to accept and welcome differences. she has taught me to live and love with reckless abandon. how to laugh. embrace uncertainty. to calmate. be content. she has mellowed me out and has taught me what is important and worth fussing over and what is not. haha. larissa has taught me how to be…me.

so needless to say, i am blessed to have such an incredible friend. pretty cool huh? if you know her, you will know what i am talking about, and if you don’t, you will be jealous and wish you knew her. perhaps, if you are lucky enough, you will get the opportunity to meet her. that is a bit of why i love larrissa anne staie. and why i am so grateful to have her in my life.