Written By Teryn E. Williams
Current Series: What Peyton Means To Me
The older I get the more I realize how rare of a person Peyton Weddle was.
I met Peyton when I began dating his best friend and neighbor, Austin. Anyone who knows Peyton knows Austin and vice versa – the two are a package deal. So, when Austin asked me to be his girlfriend, I basically began dating Peyton as well. I was seriously the third wheel to Austin and Peyton’s relationship, but I wouldn’t change that for anything. From the very beginning Peyton never treated me just as “Austin’s girlfriend”, but rather he took the time to create a special relationship with me that is everlasting.
I am the type of person that tries to take a lesson from every hardship, so oftentimes I am encouraged by all the things I learned from being friends with Peyton. I could probably write a book about all the ways Peyton impacted my life. But, one of the most valuable lessons I learned from being around him is the qualities of a good friend – genuine, present, and accepting. He was the friend that everyone wanted to have and in turn, made you want to reciprocate that same level of friendship.
Peyton was a genuine person, which is obvious by the lasting impact he had on people. He gave with no expectation of return. He was supportive and kind. He had this contagious positive energy, that you couldn’t help but see the glass half full around him. He selflessly wanted the best for the people he cared about. Peyton was wise beyond his years and gave invaluable advice that I am still employing to this day.
Peyton was the type of person who made you cherish every single memory you made with him, no matter how big or small it was. We could have fun doing just about anything whether it's going to Grizzlies games, walking Bo (the cat) down the street in the stroller, or just chilling in his garage. Peyton’s friendship taught me the importance of being present in the moment and developing memories that last a lifetime with the people you love.
Peyton was a good friend to all and was there when you needed him regardless of how he was feeling or how big a hassle it was for him. No matter what he was going through, he would reach out to you and make sure that you were okay. Even on his worst day, he would make you smile. He knew exactly the right thing to say and how to put life into perspective. He had the ability to unify people from all sorts of backgrounds, who are still connected through the mere fact that their lives were in some way impacted by his. There are so many things that make us different – race, political ideologies, religious beliefs, etc. but being around Peyton made
you see the beauty in those differences instead of being divided by them.
Peyton’s life was one that is impactful and I’m I am so blessed to have been on this Earth during the same lifetime as Peyton Weddle.
Teryn, one of Peyton's very best friends, now attends The University Of Memphis pursuing a law degree. She also serves on the Board of Directors for The PEYitforward Foundation where she provides valuable insight and a love for the mission and values of the organization. Teryn's work with the foundation has brought all of us closer to Peyton and vise versa.
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