I was listening to podcast/radio/tv host Andy Cohen, today on Howard Stern, talking about how he, at 55, has moved on from the daily, show biz life in his personal life, and it resonated with me.
For those of you who know me, I was so so very fortunate to have had the career I did. I was in the thick of it, the exciting, the challenging, the good, the bad, and the..pretty. I don’t think it was ever ugly, just trying at times.
Over the years, I accumulated a lot of contacts, acquaintances, and true friends. Many I am in touch with but not every day, week, month, or even year. It doesn’t make them any less special.
But my life has become simpler. I joke about clearing the herd on Facebook but it’s really about those who never respond. I like to reach out with a ‘like,’ a comment, or an emoji. It doesn’t make them any less important.
People you care about go into a very big tent. You may rarely speak on the phone or text, but a simple comment or remark shows: you’re giving them a moment’s thought.
I don’t need attention. Most of us don’t. We want to be acknowledged and it’s so easy to do that.
My circle of close social friends has gotten smaller. Understand that ‘friends’ does not necessarily mean people I have a daily dialogue with. We have some kind of connection and if it was great, or even pleasant, it is worth keeping.
Friends are about it feeling right, not obligations.
As I have said often, COVID changed it a lot. On a local level, we limited our interactions while the internet was safe to keep in touch, say hello, or like or comment. It takes so little effort.
I have been a pain in the ass lately about turning 70 in 6 weeks. I embrace it and my friends, a few years older, or younger.
And things change over time. We don’t care any less about people from our past. We just let it play out.
For me, I see former business contacts, journalists, and clients as people outside of who they were. I may know a lot about them, or little but something connects us, even a small memory or thing that transcends work.
Back to the bubble. People I connect with have opposing views, values, and standards, and I may not have interacted with them for 20 or 30 years. My personal daily social bubble is smaller, but my overall bubble is big. There is enough room for a bigger tent.
Memories are important when they create a link..small or large,
I will become a septuagenarian shortly but the things we found special decades ago, don’t ever fade unless the love and respect are not given back.
None of us need to be loved. We want to be remembered, not recalled and if someone gives us an iota of a thought or a ‘like,’ we know we have not lived in vain.
Barry I think I've got a shoe fettish I own 2pr Cole Haans also I can't stop buying sneakers!
Turning 70 was not easy, my seventies have been difficult to say the least. But, I’m still here, not the same. Not eager to travel as I was. I’m hoping I get that bug back ! Keep on writing ✍️!!