I love getting
together for a chat with a friend over a cuppa coffee or tea. Time together without distractions lets me concentrate on the person I’m
with and really hear his or her stories. We get to catch up on each others’
lives and continue cultivating our friendship.
Picking up from
where we left off last time, it's as if it was only yesterday since we were together. News about family,
travels, business ventures, health issues, and our latest projects take center
stage. How are the grandchildren? How’s the new knee doing? What are you
writing? We exchange ideas about world events and discuss future plans. Where’s
your next trip?
We celebrate our blessings and console each other over the bad stuff. We ask for help. And,
we figure out what we can do to give it. The time and the talk demonstrate our
importance to each other.
Many of us lead busy, full lives. I’ve
learned that touching base by phone or email, and finding an hour or so to get together, ensure that I can keep up with my peeps in person. Tending to friendships
means making time for friends in our lives. When time together is a priority,
the friendship becomes richer and deeper.
Though the staff
at Starbucks or Camille’s or Panera Bread may begin to recognize me on sight, they shouldn't think it’s about my desire for coffee. It’s all about my love of connecting and having
face-to-face time with friends.
When have you had time with a friend?
When have you had time with a friend?
~ xoA ~
Something about just taking the time to catch up with the people you care about brings a sense of calm. I find it amazing that there are certain people in my life even when it's been a while, we can continue a conversation like we'd seen each other the day before.
ReplyDeleteConnecting face-to-face is special and it happens to rarely for me.
Thanks for the reminder to take the time to make time for our friends.
Thanks, Joan, for sharing about your friendships. I'm encouraging you to make the first move to contact friends and get together soon. xoA
DeleteOne of the things I am most looking to in retirement is more time for coffee with friends...but you re mind me not to put it off!
ReplyDeleteYes, Joan. Do not put it off. Friendships need to be nurtured and tended now. Thanks for writing. xoA
DeleteMy closest friends live in Kansas, Washington, and Colorado but we still make time to have phone visits. Which of course is bitter sweet because we are so far away from one another and is not quite the same as getting to hang out together over coffee or a long lunch. I miss them very much.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Iola. At least you're still in contact with those friends and keeping up with each others' lives. Do you have Skype? It works well for my scattered family and me. xoA
ReplyDeleteSoooooooo true. I think as we get older we realize how important some of those relationships are. We need to slow down and spend some 1 on 1 time. My SIL and I have been doing this lately and though we would see other at family gatherings, it occurred to me we often didn't get to finish a conversation or really know how the other one was. We've really enjoyed our solo time. She and I were friends back in school, before she started dating and married my brother so it's been a real bonus to re-kindle.
ReplyDeleteWonderful that you two have set some time away just for you. It's important. Thanks for sharing your story, Sandy. xoA
DeleteThanks for writingg this
ReplyDeleteThank YOU for reading and taking the time to comment. xoA
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