on Friendship .

There are few people I enjoy spending time with as much as my buddy Tom. Despite the 25+ year age difference, Tom exemplifies so many qualities that any role model should have. He has been blessed financially, but I have never seen anyone that is so generous with what they have. Examples...

Tom and I golf often together. We always go to the same place for beers and food afterwards, and Tom always refuses to let me pay. He won't even let me put the tip down. He always tells me that I'm in college, and to save my money for what I really need.

A few days ago, I was talking with him about how my dad offered to get me some new clubs for my graduation, either a few hybrids or a driver. He brought up how he had bought a new driver and 3 wood, and he said, if you want the 3 wood feel free. I graciously agreed, and said I should pay him something for it, and he declined before I even finished my sentence. "It would just sit in my closet," he said. Today, after the round we played, he taps me on the shoulder and hands me his old driver. "I don't need it anymore, it's yours," he said.

As we talked about life, relationships, money and other things, I realized how much of an amazing person Tom really is, and I notice it even more every time we talk. He's put away a humongous college fund for 4 or 5 kids already, who aren't even out of their toddler stages. He never lends family members money. Ever (Wait for it...). He says, if they need it, I just give it to them. If they want to pay me back they can but I'll never ask for it, it's theirs.

I'm sure every once in awhile he treats himself, and believe me when I say it's well-deserved. This guy deserves the world, and I hope that life has been all that he has dreamt it to be. Between a condo in Florida, trips overseas, time at home, and everything else in between, this guy deserves the world. I hope one day that I will find myself to be as generous and selfless as he.

It reminds me of my time when I didn't have a car at school. I'd always hitch rides, and friends would go out of their way to include me and keep me in the loop and cart me around, always delivering me back to my door at the end of the night. Once I got my own set of wheels, I made sure to always give friends rides when I could. What's a little more gas? It isn't and shouldn't be a big deal. There's no reason to be stingy. Can you imagine if everyone in the world was a little less selfish and a little more selfless?

Tom joked that if that were so, the world would be a lot poorer too. It's all in good fun, but honestly, he has changed my life for the better. He has always been there if I need to talk, bounces ideas back to me and listens to all I have to say... I just can't say enough good things about him.

The next time you reexamine yourself, think about your friends. Have you been there in the way that you'd want them to be there for you? How can you do better? Have you given yourself wholly to them? One day maybe I'll get there. But I'm young, and I'm still learning. Thankfully I've got time...

Interactive Companionship .

Of recent, I have been making a point to try to comment on all the posts I read. This means not only writing down some words on the post after reading through, but it means actually figuring out how it touched me, what criticisms or juxtapositions can be made, and even how I can possibly put a smile on the author's face, or raise their self-esteem a little. This is actually easier said than done... it's not always easy to figure out exactly what you're feeling. And when you lean far more towards the introverted side of the scale like me, you spend a lot of time thinking about yourself: analyzing, pondering, realizing, discovering. But just because I spend a lot of time with myself, doesn't mean I actually know what's going on in there.

Regardless, I'm attempting to try to make some new connections. And for those I already know, correspond with, and would certainly consider hanging out with for reals, I'm trying to comment more and connect better. I only have about 20 or 25 blogs I read. I find that there are many out there that just don't really click just right with me. I like lifestyle blogs, but could do without diary entries, fashion tips and makeup. I like stories, inspirational tidbits, etc. I guess most of what I really enjoy are the ones that are about life -- the ups, the downs, the successes and failures, and everything in between. It helps me feel like I'm actually getting to know someone -- and not just peeping through a limited window of what they might enjoy. The only blog I follow that is almost 100% on one topic is a mountain biking blog (fuel the addiction, you know?)

If you've been slacking on the 'feedback' aspect of your blogging career, take a moment today to tell your favorite bloggers what you think of their work. If you're just a shadow of a ghost, and don't write but read lots of blogs, make yourself known. Who knows; you might end up making a new friend.

the little things .

When people enter relationships, or even before that, there are some things you can usually tell right off the bat. It's easy to tell when someone is willing to go above and beyond just to put a smile on your face. I call these, 'the little things'. These are the things that you don't expect, the things that catch you off guard, the things that make you instantly grin ear to ear, the things that pop into your head over and over throughout the day and make you think 'I can't believe they are so thoughtful that...'.

friendship & sacrifice .

The other day my parents and I got into an argument about helping my sister move down to DC. She currently lives in Philly, but recently got a new (and better paying) job down there, and thus will need help moving stuff from her Philly apartment down to her new one in DC. My parents suggested that I use both days of one of my "weekends" to do this, or even take off from work to help. I have a huge problem with this, and before you think I'm just a terrible person, let me explain why.