I'm dedicating tonight's post to my friends--all of them. I've had a lot of great conversations with some friends the past few months and find every single person to be fascinating. Everyone has a different story. Everyone has a different way of seeing things and understanding things. Everyone has strengths, weaknesses, passions, and fears. At the end of the day, everyone is human.
I've read several articles that reference loneliness, and that the most common response when asking someone how many confidants they have in their life went from three (3) down to zero (0) in the past few decades. That's right, zero. I'm glad to say my answer isn't zero, but I will admit it takes work to keep it from getting to that point.
Life happens. I get it. I've been close with a lot of different people through life, and eventually, a lot of us go our separate ways. That's normal. However, the most important thing that I want ALL of my friends to know is that they became an important part of my life by choice, and no matter how much time passes, I will be there for you as a friend--through the good times and the bad. I'm hoping I'm somewhat mature enough to get over bad juju I've had with people in the past and can start fresh, and I hope others feel the same way about me.
People are always changing and growing, and I think sometimes we forget that. Or sometimes we're hyper-aware of the fact and feel like we've become too distanced from each other to be good friends. Here's a (not-so) secret about me: I love people. I love making new friends and re-kindling old friendships. I love seeing how people throughout my life grow, change, and experience their own lives. I've done what I can throughout my life to try to take time to notice the people around me, to include them and invite them to do things together (unless they don't seem open to it), and to make sure everyone in my life knows they are welcome and special to me.
Take the time to let people in your life know they are important to you. It's one of the best things you can do for yourself and others.
I've read several articles that reference loneliness, and that the most common response when asking someone how many confidants they have in their life went from three (3) down to zero (0) in the past few decades. That's right, zero. I'm glad to say my answer isn't zero, but I will admit it takes work to keep it from getting to that point.
Life happens. I get it. I've been close with a lot of different people through life, and eventually, a lot of us go our separate ways. That's normal. However, the most important thing that I want ALL of my friends to know is that they became an important part of my life by choice, and no matter how much time passes, I will be there for you as a friend--through the good times and the bad. I'm hoping I'm somewhat mature enough to get over bad juju I've had with people in the past and can start fresh, and I hope others feel the same way about me.
People are always changing and growing, and I think sometimes we forget that. Or sometimes we're hyper-aware of the fact and feel like we've become too distanced from each other to be good friends. Here's a (not-so) secret about me: I love people. I love making new friends and re-kindling old friendships. I love seeing how people throughout my life grow, change, and experience their own lives. I've done what I can throughout my life to try to take time to notice the people around me, to include them and invite them to do things together (unless they don't seem open to it), and to make sure everyone in my life knows they are welcome and special to me.
Take the time to let people in your life know they are important to you. It's one of the best things you can do for yourself and others.