One of my favorite quotes ever is from a book by Richard Bach called Illusions- “Your friends will know you better in the first minute you meet than your acquaintances will know you in a thousand years.”
In my travels, the people I consider my really close friends- the people you call when you are down, the people you want to report your finest moments to, the people you know will be there for you and the people you would move heaven and earth to help them, wherever, whenever- have not always lived in my town. But we have a connection, and even when we don’t see each other very often, it’s like picking up with family- it feels natural and like no time has really passed between you, even if it’s been years since you’ve seen each other. I love this feeling- it’s what makes me feel like a member of this extended family/tribe, where I would gladly have any one of these people over to my home, let them drive my car, babysit my kids- whatever level of trust you need, they all have mine.
It’s almost like we connect even before we know we have. You meet someone, and the connection is instant- it’s like you can see that you belong to the same tribe from the instant you speak to each other. These are the people who i can draw energy from, who make each day a little brighter and make me feel renewed after we’ve spoken.
Then there are the acquaintences- the people you know, but don’t really bond with- the people you might want to get to know, but feel there’s some barrier preventing you from making a connection, even if you want one to be there. I never know what to do in these circumstances- the people you want to like but don’t; the ones you can’t seem to get a grip on or understand- they are members of a different tribe, and while you may like them, you’ll never know them as well as you will your own tribe members.
Miraculously, I’ve been coming across more and more of this tribe/friend/friendship lately than ever before- the ones that seem to trasnform your life from ordinary to spectacular. I don’t know if it’s social media, if it’s being more open, or if I have just relaxed a bit more, but I find myself happier than ever before, truly blessed to know some of the most amazing people on the planet.
What’s also interesting is that we’re all on a particular journey, exploring and experimenting with new ways to communicate and stay in touch, as well as build deeper connections that I know aren’t just transient.
This may all sound very silly and new age, but I just wanted to take a moment, to publicly count my blessings, and to thank so many for making my life a rich and enriching experience each and every day. I do know how fortunate and lucky I am to have you all in my life, and thank you for sharing your life with me. I know you know who you are, and that’s way more important than calling people out and playing the linking game. Thank you for being a part of my life. You make each and every day special.