Community; Friendship; Family. Personally, these words describe what I need, and what I believe we all need in our lives. We have all heard the quote that says, ‘show me your friends, and I will show you your future’. This is especially heavy for me because growing up, I really didn’t have the best friends, but I also went through times of my life where I legit had no friends. I would sit by myself at lunch, reading a book or just looking around at other groups of people, desperately wanting someone to come over to me, and take a genuine interest in me. I always felt not up to par. I would get teased every day of high school. Being made fun of for things I could not control had me always asking my parents why I was the way that I was. It led me to going to things to find validation. That looked like sports, and going to people who didn’t care about me because they were ‘popular’. Does that relate to anyone?
As I look around places I go, I am always looking for someone who is alone to try to show them they are important. It isn’t because I want to highlight myself or make myself look like a “good Christian”, it’s simply because I was in that spot, wishing someone would take an interest in my life. It is hard to just go up to someone and hang out with them, but you never know how that will impact that person’s life.
I use that story to say this: find people who share that same heart for others. Find unselfish people who will give of themselves, and who are just as willing as you are to walk alongside each other through every challenge life brings. It is so life-giving when you have someone to call when you’re going through something, and they jump at the chance to walk with you, and vice versa. I can honestly say that I would not be in the place that I am if it wasn’t for my closest friends, which are less than 6 people. We need to find people that will challenge us to go higher; to dream higher, and actually act on what we dream.
Studies clearly show that when you hang around friends who are high achievers, it is more likely that will transfer to you. Show me your friends and I will show you your future. College is so crazy because there are so many people around us, but there are times where we feel so alone. It is so important that we find people that we can delve deeper with than just a ‘hi how are you’ kind of depth. It takes vulnerability, trust, and a willingness to walk through challenging life obstacles. I am so grateful to be in a small group of close friends because it helps me to grow and to help someone else to grow. Personally, I don’t like being deep with a large group, so I would recommend that you have a small group of 5 people that you can be fully open with. I challenge you all to really find those people and try to be fully open about what is going on. Share your goals, passions, fears, all of it. Watch how your life increases because of being around good friends. Show me your friends, and I will show you your future.
Much Love,
Ryan W.
