Happy Friendversary

By Jenna Washnieski

It’s a routine occurrence for me to be in conversations with friends who bring up old stories and try to remember when they happened. I’m the one who says, “It was August 2013. It was a Thursday. I was wearing my flowered dress. It rained the next day.”

While my ability to recall specific dates and inconsequential details is a source of frequent ribbing, I like to think it’s a superpower. Because I’m able to remember dates and details, I keep a special calendar highlighting the big and little moments from my friendships. 

For instance, why should you exclusively reserve anniversaries as romantic celebrations with your partner when you can celebrate, “Annual Chili Dog Eating Day” to commemorate the time you and a pal enjoyed bar food on a cold December Saturday? 

In my calendar you’ll also find, “Cribbage-versary” to celebrate the day I taught my man to play my favorite card game. Plus, “Sunny-D Day” when my sister accidentally selected the orange beverage from a vending machine not one but TWO times in a row, resulting in a laughing fit that made people stop and stare. (Years later it still provokes giggles.) But my favorite calendar dates are “Friendversaries,” recognizing the day I met people who have become my best friends.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate how rare and special my friendships are. We all have competing demands on our time, and it’s easy to bump friends toward the bottom of the priority list. It’s not intentional, it’s just easy to lose touch for a few days or even a few months. The people we actively choose to make time for, even amidst the craziness of our lives, are people to celebrate.

My bestie and I had our annual Friendversary breakfast this week and talked about this tradition. We agreed the dynamics we share are unlike those in our other friendships, and it’s important to dedicate time to check in and remind each other of that. 

Plus, taking time to reflect upon the past year allows us to see how much we’ve both grown. Having a friend to co-create life with is like having a mirror reflecting back the things we might not see in ourselves. Being vulnerable with our closest friends is good practice for being vulnerable in other areas of our lives. 

When we take time each year to recognize everything we’ve gone through – both together and separately – we realize how much abundance we have and how we’re forever shaped by our most special friends. 

Whether it’s a goofy afternoon of eating heartburn-inducing bar food with your bro, or enjoying coffee and being moved to tears by the sweet words of your lady soulmate, I encourage you to create a new holiday to honor your most special friendships.

Here are some Friendversary planning tips to get you started:

  1. Get with your friend and figure out when you met. Where were you? What were the circumstances? Even if you can’t recall the exact day, choose a date that feels right and create a recurring calendar event to share with your pal.
  2. Schedule a Friendversary date! It can be as simple as going for a walk, scheduling a phone call or grabbing a drink. Consider something that holds special meaning for you.
  3. Reflect on your friendship by asking each other the following questions:
  • What makes our friendship different from the other friendships we have in our lives? What unique strengths do we lend each other?
  • Which actors would play us in the movie of our lives? Which scene would be the most fun for them to act out?
  • In what way have you seen me grow the most in the past year? What is one thing you wish most for me in the year ahead?

 

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2024 Power Life, All Rights Reserved.
Built with 🤍 by Blink Wellness

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Parking available in the Scheels Parking Lot.

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About Kirk: 

Kirk was working 80-hour weeks and wearing his shoulders as earrings when he found yoga in 2005. Forever the competitive athlete, he loved the physicality of yoga. When the spiritual and philosophical side of yoga were exposed to him, Kirk was hooked. Yoga provided him with what other activities couldn’t -- the ability to foster the benefits of practice both on and off of the mat. Yoga was something that Kirk could bring into all aspects of his life. 

Kirk knows that yoga can be intimidating, so he crafts a class that is playful and inviting, while still being challenging and safe. His creatively planned classes build strength and flexibility in your body and mind while establishing clarity, giving you more confidence to overcome obstacles in your life, and keeping you injury-free. His classes are themed with a message that is relatable and will inspire you to take it with you off your mat. Kirk has been teaching yoga since 2008 and lead his first teacher training in 2012. Where Kirk truly shines is in coaching, developing and bringing out the best in others.  

Kirk enjoys traveling (40+ countries to date!), snowboarding, and cherishes time with his wife and two daughters. 

About Christen: 

Christen Bakken’s yoga journey began in 1998 in a Bikram studio that provided a safe and secure place to practice. She saw the yoga mat as a place to remember her purpose and a place to play. As she continued her studies and began her journey to teaching in 2006, Christen infused yoga classes with devotion and the yoga mat became a place of personal transformation and healing. Her classes are filled with laughter, song, sweat, and usually heart openers. In 2013, Christen began training yoga teachers. This is the place where she finds the most joy - in community with folks looking to grow and be of greater service in their homes, on their mats, and in the world. Over the years, she has led trainings in Denver, the Midwest, Florida, and now abroad. She has trained in continuing education modules, 200-hour, 300-hour, and 500-hour programs. Beyond the mat, Christen is a passionate adventure seeker - she loves to bike, snowboard, and spend time with her husband and pups. She sees each day as a blessing and hopes to remind all who interact with her of this truth.  

Two Light Studio Parking Information

We validate parking for THREE garages in the area!

  • Two Light garage located directly north of the studio. Please bring your ticket inside for validation.

  • Three Light garage at Main and Truman. Garage entrance on Truman. Please bring your ticket inside for a validation sticker.

  • Power & Light garage at 13th and Grand. Please ask for a parking pass at the studio front desk. (Hot tip: the Power & Light garage has a ton of space! But be sure to give yourself a little extra time to walk to the studio.)

If you find that you are running a couple minutes late due to parking, please call the studio to let the instructor know to wait for you before locking the doors.

Blackstone Studio Parking

  • We have partnered with our friends at Greenslate to provide 1 hour and 15 minute validated parking for Power Life students in the lot at 36th and Harney (just south of the Cottonwood Hotel). Read below to learn how to take advantage of this perk:

    • Step 1: Scan the QR code located in the lot.

    • Step 2: Select your destination (i.e. “yoga studio”).

    • Step 3: Ask for the validation code at the Blackstone studio front desk and enter it on your phone.

    • Step 4: You are all set! Have fun at class!

    Please note:

    • The validation provided by Power Life and Greenslate is for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Need to add additional time to your parking space? You can do that conveniently from your phone!

    • This option is valid once per day per license plate.

East Village Studio Amenities

  • There is a paved lot and gravel lot on the West side of the building.

  • Meters on Court and 4th (by Peace Tree) for $0.25/hour, 9am-9pm Mon. – Sat. 12-hour max

  • Meters on 4th (to the North) for $1.25/hour. Mon – Sat. 4-hour max.

  • All meters are free on Sundays and major holidays.

Happy Friendversary Info