Sentimental Value

artist: Big Sean feat. Drake, Kanye West – song: Blessings https://youtu.be/M6t47RI4bns

It took me awhile to realize I NEED to consistently CONNECT. “Need” as in, it should be an addition made consistent to my social life! I am mostly an introvert so connecting with people used to be a relief I didn’t know I needed. I’d spend a full weekend with the usual crew (shoutout to Breakfast Club), have a spontaneous coffee date or night on the town with my best friend, or spend some time at church or brunch with friends – on these occasions we’d sometimes catch up with each others’ lives, and sometimes vent and let go of things we were holding onto, waiting for that safe space between only us to get the heaviness from our hearts (yeah, deep.). Even after ALL THAT, not until the next day or the following week would it hit me – like, man, I needed that.

I understand it now. Connection is intimacy of the soul; it is revitalizing and necessary. Connecting is also lifelong, but every now and then we have to change what it looks like in our respective lives. Right now, most of my friends and people I care to connect with live MORE THAN a few hundred miles from me and some are literally living across the globe. This may be true for you, too. So, how do we connect? How do we maintain friendships and keep our lives enriched through relationships? What I came up with is somewhat vague but real and that is –> putting forth the effort, and (no shade to @Drake) letting go of the whole “no new friends” philosophy.

Effort, i.e. pick up the (i)phone, travel, MAKE TIME. I am most likely lacking in effort as I write this. For example, I’m not reaching out to my friends (real friends) when they’re on my mind and I’m not returning phone calls. I’ll go ahead and be transparent for all of us – I suck at these things. I work ten plus hours a day, I get tired and lazy, I get focused on self-care not realizing my friends (real friends) share a piece of that pie, too. As a result I’m speaking this into my own life right now:

I can get better at maintaining my friendships and I will.    

Make new friends. Create new connections. These relationships don’t take to undermine your ‘day ones’. Trust me, we know who they are: often imitated, never duplicated, yadda yadda. Nevertheless, GROW in life, grow where you are, develop meaningful relationships at every level – is all I’m saying.

I’m grateful that I no longer have to be told to maintain uplifting relationships: I just do. Genuine conversation is where I live and exist, it’s no longer an afterthought. However, developing the discipline to SUSTAIN both, is a PRACTICE. Simply put, K.I.T. or Keep In Touch!

Love and laughs with this here,

almachristina