I’ve had many conversations this week about how quickly life can come at you. Summer is wrapping up, and before you know it…your fall weekends are all booked with events, football, kids sports, school, trips, etc. Then into Holiday season! Each of these small calendar items add up to a lot of extra ‘stuff’ crammed into an already hectic and chaotic pace of life in modern America.
One of the hardest things to do, is make time for close friends from your past to stay close, and have some extended time to get into deeper conversations and really catch up. It’s important to understand that this will always mean sacrificing something out of everyone involved. Taking the time away from life’s chaos to get an AirBNB with your college buddies, or head out on a skiing trip with your Army friends, or pop out to a lake with your girlfriends from high school can be just what the doctor ordered for your mental state.
Recently, I was able to talk to my dad after he took a trip out to see friends he hasn’t seen in almost 40-50 years! College buddies, who got connected to see a special, one-of-a-kind concert in Chicago. He was so excited telling me about it, about his old friends and how good it was to see everyone. How cool the concert was, and how fun it was to just do something out of ‘the norm’ (for him especially!).
There was a zest in his voice that was powerful.
I recently was also able to take a similar trip. A Friendship Reset if you will. Get out of the routines we all exist in, carve out some special time for friends, and buckle down into some good old fashion American fun. Deep conversations, hugs and celebrations, yelling and screaming, and a mountain of hard belly laughs. For me specifically, I can tell you it took my tanks up all the way up above Full and left me feeling energized.
For some people, it may not be a fast paced trip. Maybe a quiet lake house in the woods, where you can go on long walks just talking with your one really close friend without interruption.
For others, it may mean getting out of the country and really disconnecting from the world.
As my world becomes very family centric, it becomes easier and easier to see how quickly these events become ‘rare’ and are easily missed. Looking back, they’ve really only happened for me at a clip of once a year or even less!
I’m putting in dedicated work within my friends group to be an organizer of these trips and events. To ensure that we make an effort to book these out, block the time and make them happen. It takes foresight, time and aggressive action to ensure we don’t lose one or two years between these.
I believe now that this is essential to human flourishing. Separating entirely. Laughing and experiencing true joy. Break the calendar for a few days. Sacrifice together for the collective love of your friendships.
My note today is a simple one. For the sake of your long term relationships and happiness…reach out to some friends and make sure you have some plans on the horizon for something special. Make sure you connect on what that next thing might be for your group. Make a commitment to each other. And make it happen.
Love this!
Keep it up!!!!