It has been a little while and I have taken a little time away to think about a few things going on in my life. One thought I have been referencing back to over and over again the last couple of weeks is around relationships. It began with one of my best friends getting married in Ohio a couple of weeks ago. She was the first friend from back home that I had attended a wedding for since leaving Tennessee and it somewhat became surreal. I am in a stage of life I have found where people are grown-ups....kind of. Everyone around me is going isn't it so odd that persons X and Y are getting married?! The reality is after this phase will be the baby phase and I'm sure many others that will surprise us all when they come as well.
I by no means feel like a relationship expert, but today in church we touched upon things that we ultimately worship that consumes our mind other than God. As I am sitting there I realize that relationships in general is what I worship or crave. Making sure that my friends and family are taken care of and that I am truly invested in them is honestly what I live for sometimes. That's not to also say that dating isn't in that bucket as well. In just looking at the foundation of this, I wonder is that really what life is all about. Is it healthy to consume your thoughts and actions around people. I would hope that through out my lifetime I impact people positively and can say I had significant relationships with people. I also realized though that we are human. I know big revelation right? I know Chelsea; I am a human. What I'm trying to say is that people are a risky investment. All of this time is spent on people that will no doubt go through phases and change with time. I suppose I have no control no matter how much time I spend, because there is always a chance that someone will take action without my control. I don't know where this all leaves me except I continue to ponder about it and felt like sharing. It may be a bunch of nonsense, but in my head it all works itself out.
Now I'm out like a light y'all! Goodnight!
Taking the assumption that life is about maximizing happiness/fulfillment, and that humans are inherently social creatures, any productive achievement must be measured by its impact on others.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it's important to take a somewhat selfish view on the sort of relationship investment you explain: listening to your friend's relationship troubles and mentoring a younger acquaintance may differ significantly in how much "value" you derive from them, resulting from the amount of value others derive from your actions. In short, focusing on long-term, value-generating experiences, projects, and relationships is what I have determined to lead most directly to a general sense of fulfillment.