Thursday, May 10, 2012

I find it comforting when I get together in person with a group of friends.  Why?  Because we get to talking.  One thing leads to another, which leads us to understand that though each of us has very different lives, we oft have similar underlying life tones.  What do I mean by this?  Simple.  By underlying tones, I mean that each of us finds ourselves struggling with similar heartaches, emotional trials, financial burdens, life, family, work dilemmas, etc.  And we do this juggling act while continuing to maintain our many responsibilities.

One of the things that help us pull off keeping the majority of our balls in the air is when we get together to talk honestly and openly with one another.  We don’t judge or find fault in the others’ actions.  Instead, in them, we see brief mirrored images of ourselves.  Those may be somewhat fractured from what our own reality is, but are similar enough to trigger our empathy.  Through that empathy comes a deeper sense of self-understanding. 

Understanding ourselves better leads to higher self-acceptance and confidence.  Sharing with our friends and realizing that we’re not so very different in the trials we endure allows us to gain better perspective—put things into terms and at levels that we’re equipped to deal with, rather than have them overwhelm us.  So, I for one, take solace in my gathering with friends, for the peace of mind, companionship and deeper understanding it provides.