“Happiness is meeting an old friend after a long time and feeling that nothing has changed.” – Anonymous
My wife and I recently hosted an old family friend at our home for a few days.
Time slows down for no one in this world. To my surprise, it had been many years since the last time I’d seen her in person or enjoyed her company.
It’s unfortunate how the absence of someone in your daily existence truly makes you forget, even justify, why you’ve lost contact.
All the wonderful memories you once shared have become nothing more than pages in your personal history book. Photos in a scrapbook you rarely, if ever, glance at.
We all take for granted that our time here on earth is infinite.
We always assume we’ll have another opportunity to make amends for our mistakes, or reconnect with the people we cherish. But the older you get, the more you realize just how short one’s life can be. And how infrequently those opportunities realistically present themselves.
Admittedly, I’m partly to blame for the duration of time our relationship grew silent. Weighed down by personal challenges and discoveries, which caused me to break away from a past now tainted by falsehoods.
And while time slows down for no one in this world, it also provides you with perspective. It allows us all to grow and mature and eventually, if you’re ready to accept it, understand that we hold some responsibility in our problems.
Seeing that old family friend again truly made me realize that, and I’ve done what I could to make amends for my wrongdoings. And while our visit was very enjoyable – feeling that nothing had changed – I’m unsure what the future holds.
But if nothing else, I’ve come away with the understanding that being right doesn’t mean you’re the winner. Admitting your wrongdoings – showing humility – certainly does.
Dalai Lama once said, “Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend – or a meaningful day.”
