Maria Maria is a song by Santana featuring The Product G&B recorded in 1999. It’s a great song, super catchy and Carlos Santana says “Maria Maria was and will always be that feel-good summer song that speaks to women.” Some of the lyrics read, “through the weather, and even when we are apart, it still feels like we’re together.”

As you read this, I’m sure you now have this song’s earworm that might stick with you all day.  Like a good earworm, my best friend Maria sticks with me, not for a day but decade after decade.  Maria is my best friend.  We met around 1991 when we both worked for Coca-Cola in their Toronto head office.  My time with Coca-Cola was a gateway for so many things.  Learning, experiences, and lifetime friendships. One of the most valuable things that this time brought me is Maria Zitoli.  

Maria is a beautiful person.  She is intelligent, ambitious, a fabulous mom, and a wonderful friend.  Maria learns continuously, but she didn’t have to get a degree in being a great human being. We have lived in different cities for 22 years, but our friendship grows and stays intact year after year. We have been there for each other through broken relationships, loss of loved ones but primarily through extraordinary times. We see each other several times a year when we can, but we stay connected weekly for the most part.

Think about 30 years! Our friendship has lasted longer than most marriages and jobs.  Like any good long-term relationship, many strategies assist in keeping people together. Let’s discuss what has kept our friendship strong and successful. 

• Laugh a lot!  Ensure to find joy in everything you do. Whether enjoying a glass of wine, food, or conversation, have fun and be present.  So much happiness is found in these moments.

• Try new things. We have traveled together and are always open to new experiences. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, so doing these things are just joyous moments, and we appreciate the time we get to spend with each other.

• Show love always. Don’t hold back.  There is never a time we hang up the phone or when in-person leave each other without saying “I LOVE YOU.”

• Be yourself.  Maria and I, even though we share the same name, are very different.  We have always kept our individuality and enjoy the differences we bring to our relationship.  We learn from one another and celebrate the individuals that we are.

• Have open lines of communication. We just discussed this weekend that there is not much that we wouldn’t share. We can be vulnerable with one another, transparent and honest about everything. We always know where we stand.

• We are generous with one another. Generous in the sense where we take the time to be there for each other. Whether it’s a minute to share something silly or hours to work through issues, thoughts, or share happy experiences.  We always make time.

I take these learnings and apply them to all my relationships.  I am lucky enough to have a lifetime of education in friendship and look forward to many years to come.  

I celebrate Maria today, and as Carlos said about the song Maria Maria; it was and will always be that feel-good summer song that speaks to women.” Our friendship always feels like a feel-good summer and speaks to empowering women to be their best selves. 

Through the weather, and even when we are apart, it still feels like we’re together.  

Together forever, my friend.  Maria Maria!