Spent some time sitting on the patio yesterday getting some sun. Did some chores around the house. Felt good to do something after my episode and resting all weekend.
While sitting there with the sun on my body, I was thinking. Yeah, I know. Scary. Smoke coming out of my ears and all. No, I was thinking about a post that someone posted that mentioned our relevance briefly.
I was thinking about how so many people travel through our lives and are relevant to us. But are they relevant the rest of our lives? Maybe not. I started thinking of all the people I've met, served with, and worked with over the years. Then thought about how many I'm still in touch with.
When I say in touch, I might occasionally exchange likes or some other stupid emoji on comments. Or even go as far as commenting on a post. But does that mean they're relevant?
I don't know.
Christmas Messages
While drinking coffee this morning, I thought of an old friend who sends me a Merry Christmas message every year. He was with me once when I got the news of a family tragedy on Christmas day. He says he thinks of me every Christmas since then.
I sent him a message this morning telling him I appreciate him and having served with him. We never talk or exchange messages otherwise. But he is relevant to me. Should I reach out to him more? Or him to me? Possibly. Does it make him less relevant because I don't? Not sure.
I would think if we got together, it would be just like old times all over again. Surely he has changed, as I have. But we still have our pasts in common. We were relevant to each other at one time. Why would we still not be?
The Point
Maybe relevance isn't about frequency. Maybe it's about weight. Some people you talk to every day and they don't mean much. Others you hear from once a year and it hits different.
The people who showed up when it mattered. The ones who were there for the hard stuff. They carry weight that daily small talk never will.
Oh well. Time for some more coffee and to reach out to some more people. Make sure they know they are relevant to me.
Who's someone you don't talk to often but is still relevant to you?
Thanks for reading,
Joe
Notes:
-All content is mine unless otherwise annotated.
-Images are my own unless otherwise noted.
-Photos edited using Linux photo editor and drawing and/or iPhone SE.
-Page Dividers from The Terminal Discord.
I agree, relevance is everything. Not frequency. When the chips are down they show up!
!BBH
!PIZZA
For sure.
I don't think it makes him less relevant and possibly in different circumstances, quite the opposite. A terrible parent who died long ago, can still be the most relevant person in the child's life, right? We have relationships with everyone and everything, even if (and often especially when) we don't have them in our lives. The relevancy of money comes to mind.
This makes sense! The weight of the relationship (present or absent) is what matters. I like that framing a lot.
I get what you are saying.
Was thinking more on this. I have matured so much over the years. Oten think about how I would get along with these old friends now if we got togther. I can tell through socials that some have changed a lot. All we would have to talk about is our immature days. Would that be comfrotable now that we are domesticated? Who knows. I think some would get a kick out of it and would put a charge in their rather ordinary lives now.
I have many of those. Circumstances change, life changes, but that doesn't mean people loose their importance to me in the spiritual sense. In the practical sense, yes, it's reduced, but I don't love them less for that.
That's it. I think those are more the words I was looking for.
Some people arent meant to hang around and be relevant forever. I met cool people that I loved that I couldn't care less about contacting now nor I them. I don't feel bad about it, just happy they were there at the time.
But if you are thinking of reaching out to someone and saying kind words or just hi, it's definitely worth doing. It can make someone's day.
Yeah, I think the same maybe.
I reached out to him. Surely he will send something back.
Glad you are felling a little better.
Thanks. Much appreciated.
I think I can agree with that. I have some friends I might not talk to very often, but I am still really close with them. It's just part of growing up I think.
I think getting older is part of it. We all get older, move on with our lives in different fashions.
$PIZZA slices delivered:
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