Your experiences will be yours alone. But truth and best

“Your experiences will be yours alone. But truth and best friendship will rarely if ever disappoint you.” — thus spoke Anne Lamott, the modern sage whose words breathe both tenderness and fire, weaving wisdom from the ordinary cloth of life. In this simple saying lies a truth that reaches across centuries: that though each soul must walk its own path through the world, it is truth and friendship that steady the traveler’s steps. For in the solitude of our experience, when all else falters, honesty and love stand as companions that never betray.

Lamott, a writer of fierce authenticity, speaks as one who has wrestled with sorrow, doubt, and grace. Her works—rooted in faith, humor, and the frailty of human life—carry the voice of one who has learned not through theory, but through living. When she declares that “your experiences will be yours alone,” she acknowledges the sacred individuality of the human journey. No one can live your life for you; no one can wholly understand your joys or your griefs. The path that shapes your soul is uniquely yours, carved by your choices, your pain, your moments of wonder. Every heart is a universe unto itself, and even those who love us most can only glimpse its constellations.

Yet Lamott does not speak this as lament, but as liberation. For though our experiences are solitary, they are not meaningless. The soul that accepts the uniqueness of its path learns to cherish it. And in that solitude, two lights shine bright enough to pierce the darkest nights: truth and friendship. Truth, she tells us, “will rarely disappoint you,” because it is the foundation of integrity—the one thing that remains solid when illusions crumble. In a world that trembles with deceit, the one who clings to truth walks in light, even if the road is narrow.

Friendship, too, is a treasure that does not fade. Lamott names it the rarest of gifts—the “best friendship” that endures beyond seasons and storms. Such friendship is not born of convenience or flattery, but of honesty and shared humanity. It is the friend who speaks truth when silence would be easier, who stands by you not because of your success, but in your struggle. When all other bonds may break—wealth, fame, even family ties—true friendship remains steadfast, a mirror of divine grace in mortal form.

History gives us countless examples of this sacred companionship. Think of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, two great minds bound not merely by intellect, but by mutual truth and loyalty. Their friendship gave rise to worlds—Narnia and Middle-earth—and to the courage each needed to pursue his vision. They disagreed often, challenged one another fiercely, yet through it all they remained rooted in respect and affection. It was through such friendship that each man grew truer to himself. Their bond proves Lamott’s wisdom: that truth and best friendship do not weaken the soul—they strengthen it beyond measure.

There is also, in Lamott’s words, a quiet exhortation to maturity. To live fully, we must accept that no one else can bear our experiences for us, and no one else can give us meaning. The one who depends on the approval of others is doomed to disappointment, for even love cannot replace the work of the soul. But if we build our lives on the twin pillars of truth and friendship, we find a peace that neither isolation nor betrayal can destroy. The honest heart, surrounded by even one true friend, is richer than kings.

Lesson: Walk boldly in your own life. Do not shrink from your experiences, even when they are difficult or misunderstood. They are the soil in which your spirit grows. Seek truth—even when it hurts, for it will never abandon you. Cherish friendship—not the fleeting companionship of the crowd, but the deep bond of mutual care and honesty. Be that friend for others: a refuge of trust, a bearer of light. For in truth and friendship lies the quiet strength that will not disappoint, even when all else fades away.

Thus, Anne Lamott’s words are not mere comfort; they are a call to courage. “Your experiences will be yours alone.” Yes—but they need not be lonely. In walking your path with truth as your compass and friendship as your companion, you will find that even the solitary journey becomes radiant. The soul that loves truth and cherishes true friends never walks in darkness, for those two lights—eternal and unwavering—will forever guide it home.