Friend Me

Friendship is easily talked about, but maintaining friendships are hard work. I have a wife, kids, job and many hobbies, but none of those are the reason for the dissolution of friendships. I need those true friends in my life and seeing them once a year or less isn’t nearly enough. These are brothers and sisters that I love and respect. Their place in my heart is a part of me and helped me define who I am today for better or worse. We can’t let distance keep us from visiting. We can’t let our chaotic lives keep us from what could easily be the last time you can just hang out with that special person in your life. You don’t have to go back in time to hold your friends close to your heart.

                I am going to make it my personal mission to make my friends a part of my life. I want to show them that they matter now, as much as they did before. Can you make that pledge and keep it? Try. This year I have seen friends disappear. We cannot tell those friends how we feel or how much we appreciate what they did to sculpt who we are. I love my family without reservation, but they are only a portion of the whole that became who I am today. I want us to make a decree between friends, acquaintances and family. We can’t dedicate our lives to them, but surely we can dedicate a couple hours a month to those whose loss would be felt for all time.

                These are people we love and we need to hold onto them. I have five people that I feel I can’t go on ignoring the feeling I get without seeing them enough. How many do you have? What are you willing to do to keep them in your life? Call them. Email them. Send them a postcard. Do anything to make them a part of your chaotic life. I will make this happen for my friends. Look at your friends on Facebook and see how many you call a good friend, but rarely ever talk to or see. I have a few friends that live a couple hours away. I will drive there once a month and see if they can have lunch. I have one who I see frequently, but this holiday season has been crazy so I will make sure I call or message him until after the holiday more often. I have two who made impacts in my life that I feel to this day for better or worse and I will try and reconnect with them after such a long time without contact.

                Make a pledge. Make a connection and maintain it. The older you get the less you can confidently say that “I have plenty of time.”