Tag Archives: friendships

Feb 24

Invigorated

IMG_1833

Our finished masterpiece at the street painting festival. 

I spent the last few days in South Florida, luxuriating in the perfect weather, and having delightful and inspiring conversations with some incredible people.

This trip to Florida has become an annual event for me and my friend, Cyd, and I hope it will continue for as long as it can. We go in February to participate in the terrific Lake Worth Street Painting Festival, something we participated in when we were both living in the area.

What I tend to realize while I’m there is how much I miss these people I’m visiting. They are hard working, dedicated, talented, stylish, interesting, fun, and funny. They are easy to talk to and have thoughts and opinions about the world around them. They are passionate. I find that all my favorite people embody these traits. Their friendships bring me pure delight. I’m thankful for them (in Florida and beyond).

While there, I have pangs of wishing to return to Florida because of ALL THE THINGS there are to do. So many options! SO MANY! I didn’t appreciate it while I was there because I lived in it. Now, transplanted back to the midwest, I miss it something fierce.

But the other thing I realize while I’m there is how happy I am in my little nook of the world, with my hubby and my pups. Always looking for the next adventure (New England, maybe?), but enjoying ourselves in the meantime.

Jan 4

Shhhh

Silence

Sometimes Facebook feels loud.

Like being surrounded by the bustle at a large airport.

All the voices in unison–endless chatter.

People are having fun, or having a bad day, or recommending interesting stories, or complaining they’ve been stood up. 

And you’re commenting, and complimenting, and supporting, and liking, and also wondering about the next photo you’re going to share.

Meanwhile, that tome on Alexander Hamilton remains unread. Meanwhile that sketchbook remains half empty. Meanwhile, that essay you started is partially written.  

This is not a problem with Facebook.

This is the purpose of Facebook–to share share share.

The problem is all mine and my inability to effectively ignore it when it serves me best to do so.

Instead, I choose to deactivate the loud account and check into the quiet account, where I have only a handful of friends.

Already I feel more mellow.

As though I’ve escorted these few into an empty coffee shop where we can talk.

There are others in the loud room that I would like to bring over, but I want to keep small numbers in the quiet room.

I’m sure I’ll enter the loud room again; I feel it is inevitable. There are many people there I enjoy a great deal. 

But to start off 2016, I think I could use some quiet.