Excuse me for the “Debbie downer” out of the gate, but do you ever have those times in your life when all you seem to hear about are the endless amounts of friends who are sick, just recently diagnosed with cancer, getting ready to have surgery or passed away unexpectedly?  

It seems this has been my life this past week.  I am just heartbroken by all the sad stories I am hearing and it doesn’t help that many of these people are about my age—Really gets your attention.  

The good news is that hearing stories like these motivates me to be more intentional to remove all the typical excuses and spend time with people who are important to me.  But here’s the kicker, after family, work, hobbies, and any other activities you enjoy, finding time to get together with other people can seem like a challenge (did you hear it – excuse).  So here’s my point in this week’s blog, “sowing seeds” into relationships is your opportunity to build a healthy spiritual journey.  Here’s why.

Let’s start with why it’s so hard?  

Could it be that we struggle with “laying it all out there” or possibly we aren’t that big of a talker and we can’t imagine ourselves sitting around a table with crickets chirping when it’s our turn? I want to say that it doesn’t have to be that way! Everyone is different. We learn differently, perceive the world differently, and we express ourselves differently.  

These are all good things—you don’t have to find a “pack” that looks and acts just like you to feel comfortable. In fact, I want to challenge you to seek out and find people who are a little different and work to connect. We can learn a lot from people who are at a different place in life.

But the opposite can also be true. Connecting and growing relationships with like-minded people may be what YOU need—and that’s OK, too! Maybe you find yourself feeling out of touch with others and finding people who share your interests is what you need during this season of life. I’m thinking of the mom who needs to find others at a similar same stage of parenting, or a retired Marine who needs to talk about what it means to tackle the next stage in life—maybe you are barrelling through life at 90 mph with a successful career and you need to balance it with time away from screens with others who enjoy an afternoon on the water.

See what I mean? There really is no “right” way to cultivate relationships and it doesn’t have to be achieved through a traditional pathway.  When people on a journey get together, they naturally share joys and struggles—that’s life!

Remember you are not alone, as much as it may feel that way at times. Everyone can find someone to connect with, but make sure you are patient and allow some time for healthy relationships to grow and be a positive influence in your life.  As with a marriage, the best relationships don’t happen overnight. They take time to grow and be nourished. And when you find that a great relationship, it is sure worth the wait!

How do you connect with others and cultivate strong relationships?  I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

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Your Virtual Mentor,

Doug