I've been having a conversation about relationships with a very longtime friend of mine today - one of those people you talk to a lot and then there's times you disappear from each other... No matter how much time has passed, though, you can always just pick up where you left off... Anyway, he's just told me he's going to propose to his gf. How exciting!...Which leads me to what I was just talking to him about.
The older you get, the more realize you want to slow down. (Well, at least in my case.) In college and for a couple of years after college, you partied. You were a social butterfly. Every weekend was a new adventure to you. You had lots of friends around you and you knew about anything and everything going on. Being in touch with the social scene was a huge priority to you.
At one point in your life, you just realize that things have a different meaning. You have different priorities. For him, he's never had to share his life with someone and now he can't get enough of spending his life with her... that's so exciting and scary at the same time. For myself, I definitely know I'm not there, but Ive known for a long time that if and when I get to that point in my life, I'll be super excited.
But in the immediate moment, do you ever find yourself having to justify yourself and your actions to your close friends? Here's a good scenario... It's Friday night and everyone's excited to go out. You just got home from work, though. All you've been dreaming about all day long is how nice it would be to curl up with your pilllows in your bed and take a long nap. Maybe even watch some tv or catch up on reading a book. Who cares if it's Friday. The parties aren't going anywhere - it's too much of an effort to get yourself done up for a club or a bar. It's fun once in a while, but damn...every week? It takes a toll on you, especially your wallet.
It was one day a few months ago...that it all made sense to me. A lot of my friends live with their parents, though very successful with their lives. I remember when I lived with my parents. I always wanted to go out, to get away from my nagging parents. Now that I'm on my own, with my own financial responsibilities, I have no nagging parents to bug me about when I'm coming home or where I've been. I have a house I get to enjoy, and I forget to do so sometimes. I look forward to dinners with friends more. I live for the weekends when I get to do laundry. Damn, I must be getting old to be thinking like this. (Disclaimer: I still love to dance though!) So in short, I realized that a lot of my friends just haven't gotten to this phase in their lives. They can't understand yet, but in time I know they'll know what I'm talking about. The next time I feel like I'm justifying way too much, I'll have to remember that. It'll ease my mind a lot more.
