Getting Personal

Lately it has occurred to me that I crave being with other people much more than I actually am with other people.  Loneliness seems to be an epidemic, but I think it is a symptom, not the problem itself.    But what is to be done about it?  We find ourselves "stuck" in our busy lifestyles and unable to break out of them to socialize.  I think that's part of the reason "social media" has done so well in our generation.  We don't have to break out of our routine in order to have some kind of social life.  But does this so-called social life meet our deep need to be with other people?

Some will claim that they are "just fine" with social media filling that void.  Others know that they still feel lonely after following, friending, updating, commenting, tweeting, retweeting, etc., for hours on end.  I find myself in that second camp.  Yes, I have a husband and children and even cats (3 of them), but somehow that doesn't seem to take care of it. 

So what to do about it?  Make time and make friends is my solution.  And that is what I've been trying to do.  Hubby and I have been having a couple over every week for "game night."  It is nice to spend time with another couple and really get to know them and get close.  I secretly hope that my children will grow up to call them "Aunt" and "Uncle."  I have also started spending time once a week with a good girlfriend of mine who lives one building over from mine and yet, for a while there, I saw only a few times a year.  We are reconnecting and I love it! 

All of this is wonderful but there is one type of person I realize I crave being around but don't have one close by.  Mothers.  When I speak with mothers at the park when our children are playing together I realize that I deeply desire a close relationship with a mother.  I know one mother right now that I would very much enjoy spending time with, but she lives a half-hours drive away.  I know that seems very little but when we are talking naptimes, feedings and fussy babies it seems like an eternity.  Even the 3 hour trip to see "Mammaw and Pappaw" takes 5 hours if we leave in the daytime.  Add to that the fact that she works and the time that we have to hang out is slim.  It would be difficult to start some kind of weekly meeting.  And so I wonder... would a phone call do it?  Would a phone call take care of it or would I still find myself craving the physical presence of another mother?  It is my aim to find out. 

To all of the busy mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, and even singles out there please learn this lesson:  If you have any hope of enjoying life you must take care of yourself and not just let life happen to you.  While taking care of yourself please, please, please, do not exclude the social aspect of your life.  We were never meant to be alone but to enrich each others' lives while having our own life enriched by others.