The sun sets on another day…
Sunset called today if only to say that it was here. The skies were once again lit up and once again I smiled at the good fortune of being able to see an amazing sunset. It is true I was lost in the trees, but the colors were still there.
I find myself thinking about the curious circles of human interaction each day. There are many who talk about the different masks we wear. The masks for those close to us and for those who are farther away. Although I do think there are many people who wear masks, I also think there is many people who have circles of friends that widen outward and for each of those circles their persona is what they need to project.
For example, there is family. This should normally be the first circle, but it is the circle that allows us to interact the most purely. Hopefully, families don’t have large secrets from each other and because of that truthful interaction things may go up and down, but everyone always knows where they stand.
Beneath that circle is a layer of best friends. Those people you can tell anything to and not be judged. They may not be as aware as firmly or sometimes they may be just as much. Either way, if you make it into someone’s best friend circle you should be honored.
Coming in next is the work friends and OK friends where you have a certain amount of shielding from what goes on day-to-day, but you still want to make sure that everyone communicates well. Work friends can sometimes grow from here but often stay here until work is done. The friends you put here are often those who are competent but not necessarily as engaged as you are.
Lastly comes a layer of circles that grow farther and farther apart as we interact with those people who are not real friends but who are not real enemies. These can be friends that we know from other friends or someone that we just don’t feel that comfortable getting close to. It is often in this circle or series of circles that we find our way to grow and eventually become more.
What do you think? Do you think your friends are in circles or do you think everything is just fine? Can you see where your friends are alone or is it elusive? It could be that you have no circles, but I have found very few people who do not separate their acquaintances into places that are safe.
So as the sun sets on another day, take a moment and think about your friends. Keep your family and close friends as close as you can. In the end, they are amazing for you each day if you’ll just let them be. Be a friend to those who need it and make your world the best world it can be, no matter what.
Sleep sweet, love life, and circle up the wagons…