Environmental Friendships

There are friends in your life that you count on - if you're lucky that is. You may have one, you may have more. But if you are anything like me, most of your friendships are most likely environmental or circumstatial. That doesn't lessen their importance. Don't fall for that lie. They are still an incredible force and a necessary part of a well rounded life. Okay, so that is my opinion but that is my opinion because that is my experience.

I've moved around a bit in my life. As a child it wasn't my choice but I adapted relatively well to it. As an adult it, at first, seemed a compulsion, later a necessity and so I have had many environmental friendships. Those friendships have helped me through different times and struggles. They've helped me gage where I'm at in my life. They've pushed me forward. Sometimes they've infuriated me and sometimes they've encouraged me. Without them, though, life would be quite a bit duller, I'm afraid.

Sometimes I don't think people give enough thought or credit to these neighbours who bustle in and out of our lives, yelling 'hello' from their doorsteps or catching the dog when she runs out into the street, or letting your own child use their older child's hockey net to play. They are just people that happen to come in and out of our lives - not by choice but by environment, coincidence perhaps.

Over the years I have had so many people that I've called friends who were only friends because their house backed on the same alley that ours did, or they had children the same age as mine, or they walked by my house the same time each day or worked at the post office outlet I went to. Many different people that I count important to my life without being the kind of friends that stand by you no matter what.

If you have a couple really good friends that will go to bat for you and be there for you when you are in your darkest hour or behaving your darkest - heck, even if you just have one - then you are blessed. But even those friends on the outside - the ones that invite you to their place for a cup of coffee or a quick lunch - they are part of you too. I've written on this before but it is once again on my mind. I care for these people and they most likley have no idea that I do. But, I do. :)