While high school and college friends came from somewhat different lifeways, we all had a lot in common during those years, but after that people moved in a host of different directions with regard to partners, geography, children, jobs and interests. In many cases, we lost regular contact with people we spent a lot of time with during college and high school. Our lives during those early work and child raising years were very, very busy, and now we're at the other side meeting up with college and high school friends again. We're catching up on each other's lifeways. What have I noticed?
Good investments grow
Financial experts know that good investments grow over time, and this is so true about any lifeway you invest in. What you do day after day with fidelity and good effort results mostly in positive lifeways for you and your loved ones. That's why we have to really think about how we spend our time. Friends who devoted good time and attention to their children generally have children who have embarked on their own positive lifeways. People who devoted positive effort to their careers now have good roles and have made significant contributions. And those who invested good time, effort and resources into their passions, interests and community have garnered good results too. What we do each day matters and that daily effort adds up over years in lifeways we can be proud of and satisfied with.
Our children take us down roads we never thought we would travel
While we can invest the best of us in our children's lives, our children will live their own lives. If we are open to their choices, challenges and interests, they will contribute significantly to our lives too. Our children provide us with new and interesting lifeways--journeys that have the potential to enrich our lives.
Camaraderie and Compromise is a significant, positive parts of the journey
To journey through life with others brings life meaning, and to positively live life with others requires compromise. If we want to be part of a team, we will need to compromise. It won't always be our way, but instead our combined lifeways will have something for everyone.
This weekend I'll have the chance to meet up with many friends and family members--each one has a life somewhat different than the others, and everyone has made some significant, valuable choices about where they live, whom they live with and what they do. I want to approach these meetings with warmth and curiosity as I continue to ponder the question, What makes a good life? Onward.