Hi Monica
This is going to be a brief Instigator. For some reason my Saturday morning has been topsy turvy and I haven’t got to focus on writing you. Which, by the way, I love writing you every week. I feel like it connects us in a way, nothing else quite can. Though, it does seem like I do most of the talking.
This week the painters finished up. It was a longer process than I realized. I LOVE IT. This was also the first full week the new website was live. We had loads of visitors. I’m grateful. I love how it looks and what we offer. My friend Shasta was in town speaking at an event. Sarah, Monica, and I were able to go support her and then have lunch.
I love having friends spread across the nation. When I travel, I like to see people I know. It shrinks the world in an amazing way. We can feel isolated in our own space because we’re there all the time. When we go somewhere else and there is someone we know there, it’s super delightful.
So Shasta coming into our world had a similar effect. It was fun, insightful, and joyous. She talks about “Frientimacy” which I love. First, because I love made-up words and second, the mash-up of those two big ideas inspires me.
Yesterday, I went to a small group gathering of entrepreneurs that my friend Heady co-hosts once a month. He’s constantly finding ways to bring people together. Thursday night, after church, I hung out with my pastors, Rodney and Shannon, for a bit. I’m super grateful for their friendship and wisdom.
Friends Near & Far Enrich Our World!
Last week, I wrote you about how relationships are required to grow us. This week it appears to be about how relationships are vital to our sense of joy. Of course, the relationships have to have a bit of depth to them and be real. I know there are plenty of professional relationships that are surface-level. Maybe not fake, but not terribly genuine either. Those don’t bring us satisfaction.
R – Revealing. The way to accelerate deeper connection is to willingly reveal our thoughts, experiences, and dreams.
E – Encouraging. No relationship can be sustained without each jostling the other on towards goodness.
A – Accepting. Another accelerant that connects hearts and minds, when we willingly welcome each other’s uniqueness.
L – Liking. It makes all the difference if you are drawn to the person because you enjoy their presence!
I want to keep expanding my friendship circle. I instigate most of the relationships I’m in, so I can choose to create more. Finding places to do that, seems to be the challenge.
Instigating Ideas
1. How many good friends do you have?
2. How would your life be different if that number doubled?
3. Do you see your friends enough?
I’m certain one of the reasons I carry the energy I do and the optimism that abounds, is because I have several significant friendships in my life, that genuinely generate joy. I’m not sure we can sustain joy in our life if we’re isolated?
Shasta has some crazy stats about the effects of loneliness on the physical body. Literally, they’re hard to believe. Which makes the opposite true too. Having healthy, real relationships in our life is the very thing that extends our life and certainly enhances them exponentially!
I would love to hear how you nurture relationships and maintain them over time? Also, if you have an effective approach for making new relationships? Please let me know!
Greg