After several days of heavy rain, the weather this weekend was gorgeous. In spite of that I realized, yet again, another tendency I have to simply look at the gorgeous weather out of my windows, relishing the view of the Connecticut River with all the sail boats going down the river and the speedboats flying up the river while I sit working either on the computer or keeping busy doing other things.
How many of you, especially entrepreneurs, have developed a tendency to work rather than play as if extreme amounts of work alone will get you where you want to go? How many of you have lost sight of the value of friendship, playing, taking a break, and walking away from the to-do list?
I will never be a slacker; it is not in my nature nor do I want it to be. What I do realize however is that the gift of my friends, my wide variety of friends, is that they call me to remember who I was, who I am, and who I am capable of becoming. These friends are as much what supports me in getting to where I want to go as is my dedication to working.
After a full day of seeing patients on Friday, which I would have followed with a full evening in front of the computer, friends called me to leave the house to go to a movie and then out after to talk and catch up. Early Saturday evening another friend called while I was still in my work-out clothes from earlier in the day (too much work to do to change) and asked about getting a light, casual dinner since it had been a few says since seeing each other and as entrepreneurs there is always things to catch up on and be supported in. Sunday was time to celebrate another’s birthday with brunch.
Each time a different circle or friend called I was pulled as to what is the best thing to do. The old messages of “If I want this next dream to materialize I need to work hard at making it happen, I need to devote every minute to it.” competed with my newer awareness that friends and play are an important part of getting away so I can later see things objectively. They are a great resource in receiving support and seeing things objectively and, always, and most importantly, it feels wonderful knowing we are loved and wanted. No dream, passion, or desire to be alive is complete without that. If your tendency is to do otherwise, please find balance and take the time to “smell the roses,” to be loved, and to love. That really is what life is all about. If we are going to keep our passion alive we need to feed it, love and friendship is the greatest food of all.
