The Company We Keep

I officially changed my Instagram handle to reflect my marriage, because apparently “cannewill” just didn’t reflect who I am anymore. So, I pivoted.

My new personal Instagram handle is csmithandco_, or, as I like to call it, C. Smith & Co.

And I went this direction for two reasons.

One, have you ever tried to find a handle, email address, username, or literally anything with “Smith” in it? IMPOSSIBLE. There are apparently 4.7 billion Smiths on the internet and every single one of them got there before me.

Two, and probably more importantly, I feel like my Instagram has always been less about me and more about the people I get to do life with. I probably post more pictures of Zach or group photos than I do of myself. And honestly, I’m okay with that. Life is just better when you have good people along for the ride.

Zach and I are truly blessed by the people we have in our lives. Over the years, our circle has grown in so many different directions. We have friends who have been around since high school, friends we met in college, and friends we gained in those weird, chaotic early-adulthood years when everyone was trying to figure out what the hell they were doing.

And the best part is, even though we may not see everyone every day or hang out every weekend, the love, support and friendship are always there. Those are the people you can pick right back up with, even if months have passed since the last time you saw each other.

This summer, more than anything, has felt like a reminder of that.

A reminder that friendships change as life changes, but the good ones don’t disappear. They evolve. The late nights might turn into earlier nights. The spontaneous plans might require a little more coordination. And suddenly someone is leaving the party at 7:30 because their kid has to be in bed. 😂

But the people are still the same, with a few very cute additions along the way.

It’s honestly been so weird and wonderful watching our friend group grow into this next stage of life. The same people we’ve shared late nights, vacations, weddings, questionable decisions, too many drinks and way too much food with are now bringing their little ones along for the ride.

These are the people who have become our chosen family. The ones who are always down for a good time, good food, good drinks and, most importantly, good company. The ones who show up for the big moments and the little ones. The ones who make ordinary weekends feel like something worth remembering.

And I think that’s what C. Smith & Co. really means to me.

It’s not just me. It’s Zach. It’s our friends. It’s our family. It’s the people who have walked alongside us through different seasons of life and the little people who are now joining the crew.

Life has gotten a little fuller, a little louder, a little earlier in the evening… and somehow, a whole lot better.

So, welcome to C. Smith & Co.

The company is small-ish, the hours are inconsistent, the benefits are questionable, but the people are pretty damn great.

-CC