We’re humans. We’re social creatures. Many people want to act like we’re independent without needing people. Who we spend time with matters as much about ourselves as anyone. We are the sum of those around us. Our personalities, attitudes, and moods stem the people with whom we spend the most time. Choose your communities wisely.
Work
People often have two times of jobs: vocations or bill-payers. People who’ve had a greater calling, or “dream” job, will usually work with people who share much closer interests. That’s why they’re there. People who have bill-payer jobs often act like drones and work at their job because it keeps food on the table and the bills paid. Those jobs often have people who are like a box of chocolates — we never know what we’re going to get. I’m more-or-less in the latter category right now. My “day job” is one in which it pays the bills with people of many different backgrounds. If nothing else, it makes it interesting.
Friends
We can pick our friends, but not our family, right? Don’t hang out with the wrong group of kids, right? We start to act like our friends, take the same interests as our friends, and do the same things as our friends. That’s why they’re our friends, right? We like people who remind us of ourselves (which is why parroting people we’re trying to impress works so well — it builds instant rapport). This can be good or bad. Hanging around the “cool kids” in high school is much different than high-achievers during adulthood. Our friends can build us up or break us down.
Affinity
Affinity, or special interest, groups contain people who have similar interests. I have many runner friends and I can’t tell you their religion, their politics, or their native land. We speak the same language: running. Affinity groups are great because we take a break from the “real world”; we join them because we have a similar interest and want to meet people with the same interest. We’re one big community.
Family
The most important group of people in our lives are our families. They are always with us — either supporting us or haunting our lives. They never leave. We don’t become scarred from negative, childhood emotions with friends, but we are from family. Positive families always support each other through the good times and the bad. It’s the backbone of our lives. We need them more than we know. With their support, “it’ll always be alright”. Without support, it can become a nightmare.
Our family is the most important core group of people in our lives. Our friends and support group are our next — they’re who we choose to be put into our lives. Who do we want to put in our lives?
