January 18, 2012 - Friends Near and Far, Old and New, and YOU

Life is so weird. Okay that's a pretty broad statement and maybe not even accurate. I guess I don't know the word I am looking for but whatever it is would encompass all the twists and turns in life and the stuff we pick up- or leave behind- along the way. If you think back over your life, I'm sure you'd forget many people that have influenced or enriched you along the way - some forgotten intentionally while others maybe just slip your mind. Within the past few years my circle of friends has grown from like 2 to maybe about 50. Okay really who can count - maybe its 50 or maybe 500, but regardless each one I can say I have honestly learned something from that helps me be a better person (I hope). So why is it that I tend to take these people for granted? Not that I use them or abuse them but just get so caught up in myself that I neglect them. I have a pen pal from Germany whom I used to write to all the time - back in the day of paper and pen and the postal service. Yet now with this new technology I hardly even electronically send her a Hi. Or the girl (lady? Woman?) whom over some weird intertwining in our own lives I became good friends with. More than just friends - we shared a lot. But then she moved away and yet again in the age and ease of instant messages and lightening fast emails I am still neglectful of that relationship as well. I recently heard from her- sounds like a lot going on in her life, and I feel like I've missed so much of the sharing and caring we used to have. These days with Facebook - and blogging- we get to share little bits and pieces of our lives. Yet the true investment in real relationships seems to dwindle day by day. We update our status, make our little comments, repost things we've come across, even tell people where we are by clicking the 'check in' box - but really, how much of ourselves are we really allowing others to know, and how connected are we to our friends lives? Okay great that you are at Starbucks (me) but when's the last time you invited one of your friends over to sit down with you over coffee and catch up on old times? A lady in my church whom I had become close to keeps suggesting we do this but life keeps interrupting our plans. Yet we never know when one day may be the last chance we have to reconnect with people who have touched our lives. I want to start building upon the foundations I've started over the years. So don't be surprised if out of the blue you get a text, email, or maybe even an old fashioned letter in the mail from me. Like flowers need water, my relationships need nourishment. On that note, I'm gonna go write my pen-pal a little note. And you, yeah, YOU - don't forget me :) Send me a note, update me with your life, or simply say Hi. Promise I'll respond :) I miss YOU and want to hear what's new, exciting, or just ordinary in your life. Let's share..... Sharing is caring :)