Well, I just got back from good ol' Athens GA. Today. I took a much needed long weekend and got the fizzzuck out of dodge for a little while. Athens, GA. What is there to say really. It is one of the greatest places on the planet and I miss it and don't miss it, all at the same time.
The reason I was in Athens was a rendezvous of sorts. A few of my friends that have since scattered from our glories days of Athens got to reunite. What followed was the usual debauchery that could be found on any given weekend up in Athens. It was a blast.
But, I was trying to figure out what I was going to say about my time up in Athens as it was a great weekend I figured it deserved a blog of its own. Then I figured it out and it fit very neatly in that already forsaken mini-series about happiness. So I decided to resurrect it even after I told ya'll had no other intentions of continuing it. (If you haven't figured it out I love changing my mind. So learn to deal.) It fits neatly in that section that was to be labelled social life. So I will expand on this little thought I had while travelling back to Atlanta this afternoon.
So, as I said I had the pleasure of hanging out with a group of friends that I consider some of my closest friends. Our lives have recently diverged in different directions taking us to different cities and very different lives. It is weird how the dynamic of friendship works. This group involves many complex personalities clashing together to form a very strong core. These are guys that have seen me at my worst and in spite of it all have had my back through every step of it. This inter grouping of people gives me a level of comfort and belonging that I don't find often in too many other places.
Thinking about this today something dawned on me. That feeling of belonging. Being part of a group. Part of something where support, trust, and friendship are fostered. I realized this was something that I am looking for in my life. I mean everyone looks to be part of something. That's why we have communities of like minded people. Everyone wants to be part of something like that. I realized I miss that feeling of belonging. Atlanta, has been a new change for me, and I have lost that feeling, somewhere along the way, that I belonged. While I have met some great friends since I have moved back none that can compare to the relationships I developed in Athens. But, beyond that I am looking for that in other aspects of my life. I am looking for that in my career. To feel like I belong to something important and bring something meaningful to the table in my job. I don't have that feeling. Which might be why I am not completely satisfied at my new job. I am looking for it in other aspect of my life. I am trying to fulfill that need all of us have to belong to something bigger than just ourselves. Where we can intertwine our complex personalities with others and create relationships that create greater strength and unity. Then we could ever hope to create alone.
1 comment:
I totally agree. which is one reason why its been so hard for me in birmingham (like you in atlanta).
one thing to remind yourself though is that it also takes TIME to develop the kind of relationships and connections that make you feel like you really BELONG in whatever organization or community it is.
Of course you know that already, but atleast for me (being the impatient person I am), it helps to remind myself when i'm feeling lonely and missing old times, that those relationships took time to progress to such a level of comfort... finding one's niche in a new place, with new people, doesn't happen overnight.
ok, that sounds really preachy- but your post just made me reflect on my own experiences with Happiness Part IV :)
Post a Comment