Relationship Oriented

You know that I can be woefully obtuse about myself at times. It can take me years to understand a part of myself which someone who knows me for two weeks can figure out. A conversation, in February, opened my eyes to how I am a relationship oriented person. I have believed in the power of building relationships for years, yet I would have never classified myself as a relationship oriented person. Just like I never realized my perfectionist tendencies until three friends, over forty-eight hours on three separate occasions, pointed it out to me.

I chose my job to build relationships. I chose my church because of the close knit relationships and the family atmosphere from the moment I walked through the door. I don't want to build impersonal relationships with my friends but lasting and deep friendships. I believe it is through building relationships that lives are changed. I thrive off of and yearn for those close knit relationships in my life.

This year has shown me the power and need for relationships in my life. Life is not meant to be lived as a hermit on an island, to be set apart from all mankind. Every relationship from the one with your parents and family to your friends and significant other is hard work and can be messy and tough at times. But. Those are the people you know you can always turn to. They are the people who will always be honest with you especially when you don't want them to be but when they absolutely must be honest. Those are the people you can vent, rant, cry, laugh, talk, or just sit with as you go through life together from the highest of the highs to the lowest and darkest place. Through the past year, John Donne has been running through my mind. Find people in your life to build lasting and life-long relationships, because no man can be an island.