Sunday, April 29, 2007

To Thine Own Self

I think I am constantly disillusioned by friendship. Maybe I expect too much of friendship. It's probably my own fault. I realize friends come and go. It's all part of the circle of life (see graph). Still, you want to continue friendships although they are ending. Or perhaps you are trying to make a bigger investment in a friendship than is being returned. "He's just not that into you." So you make your effort, and continue to make an effort, and one isn't given back...so the relationship dies. In time you move on and you find someone else to fill that gap in the number of relationships that you can balance at one time. I know it's not possible or realistic to be friends with everyone you meet or for others to continue when their time is up. I still get disappointed at this occurence though. It's more frustrating when someone you'd like to be better friends with or whatever doesn't seem to feel the same way you do. But what can you do? It's nice that there are some people that no matter what time or space is between you, you are able to start again, even where you left off. It's good to have. I guess it comes down to deciding what's important and what you value and how much - and making an effort to sustain those things. Maybe that will be returned and maybe it won't. Maybe it's just time to accept that you have to move on to something else. And maybe some relationships don't need all this fuss because you know they'll always be there, no matter what happens even if you are far away and can't always catch up with each other. Anyway...this is just based on 25 years of experiences and observations - not directed at anyone specific at all. I'm blessed to have the friends that I do have and I love them very much.


Something I wanted to mention was how I was appreciative of the boldness of Governor Tim Kaine's (Virginia) and even the President's remarks at the memorial service for the Virginia Tech victims. They referred to scripture and God and finding comfort there, or even questioning and being angry. It's nice to see someone being true to who they are and what they believe even if they are a public person and in politics especially. Our nation doesn't generally want people like that in such positions - if it means bringing God into the picture. I believe that the governor used to be a church leader of some sort. It surprises me that he was even elected to his position. Maybe that area is more receptive to faith, I know it wouldn't go over too well in this part of the country.

1 comment:

Suzie said...

Wow, I know exactly what you're talking about, I think that we all go through this. For me, moving really helped to solidify the friendships that will always be there and it also ended some friendships whose time had come.