Choosing your Friends

Who is important enough for your attention? Everyone has their story, everyone has something to offer, but you don’t have time for everyone. And much as I’d like to, neither do I.

But how do you choose who to let into your life and keep there? And how do you decide when to make time for those that you don’t see every day? It’s not an easy question.

I have my friends from home, from school, and from dance, my family, and a bunch of random people from along the way. There are those like Bob and Laura and my family who I know will never go away, but then there are so many more. And how does one judge who merits time?

There are…cute girls, those with whom I have a “past,” good dancers, those that like me a lot, those who intrigue me, those who confuse me, those who empathize, those with random talents, those I see a lot, and lots of others. I could go ahead and make some really big Venn Diagrams to break people into different categories, but they really wouldn’t help… (do they ever?)

I guess there’s a time and place for different people, but it’s never simple and it’s never perfect. I’m just having trouble focusing my time and energy. I think I have a handle on those that are already in my life right now, but can’t decide about who I want to let further in.

Sure, maybe I’m not so special that I should worry so much about my “precious” time. At least I have friends, right? Well, I think it’s pretty darn important who I hold onto and who I push away. If someone likes me and I’m not really interested, at what point do I cut ties? If I have “old friends” that don’t really keep in touch then do I have more allegiance to them or new friends who are around more? And do I toss everyone aside if and when I find “the one”? Today I don’t know the answers to all these questions, but as I respond to emails from Boston, Baltimore, Houston, and Harrisburg I have to think how I want to focus my energy and time. And it’s something everyone has to think about. I wish I could just be there for everyone…