Friendships Give Life Meaning and Purpose

Humans are naturally social creatures.  Not only do we depend on each other collectively for our survival as a species, but we need friendships with others to create meaning and purpose for our very existence.  So how does one attain a good relationship with others?  It begins by having a good relationship with yourself.  We all want to be heard, acknowledged, understood, loved and trusted.  To be Heard, we must listen.  To be acknowledged, we must aware.  To be understood, we must first look deep within and begin to understand ourselves.  To be loved, we must love ourselves.  To be trusted we must be honest with ourselves.  A relationship can be a brief encounter with another or as in the case of Josie and I, last for decades but not without extreme challenges.  Lately we’ve met some really inspiring, creative and honest people in our travels and want to tell you about a few of them.  Back in December, while in San Carlos, Mexico, I went mountain biking with a group of men and immediately connected with a man I call “G” from Canada.  We shared the same numbers for our ages, I’m 57 years old and he is 75 years young.  My hope is that when I reach 75 years young, I’ll be in as good a shape physically and mentally as G is.  Although we only just met, and knew him so briefly, I felt an honest and authentic trust between us.  A few days ago, Josie and I met a couple at the Buckskin State Park in Arizona while hiking by the name of Bob and RoseAnne also from Canada.  What’s up with this Canadian connection?  What prompted me to stop and speak to them is they were both using natural wood walking sticks they cut and finished themselves and were the perfect length to be used to build a Peace Chair.  After a couple of minutes talking, we felt an immediate connection with them.  Bob is a retired Steam Engineer.  Not sure if that is his correct title, but he said, “if it runs off steam, I like to work or play with it”.  RoseAnn spent her life in Service to others, either as a teacher/professor, then later as a social worker.  Real down to earth, authentic folks.  We cherished the short time we spent with them and look forward to the possibility of seeing them again if we make it up to their neck of the woods.  It is the relationships we nurture whether it be a few hours or a life time that gives life meaning, purpose and joy.  Next, I want to tell you about a creative and grateful person.  Just north of Lake Havasu City, we stopped to gas up Rosie (our home on wheels) and saw a woman smiling and waving at people as she held a sign that said, “Out of Gas”.  As I filled Rosie’s gas tank, I watched her collect money from people and before pocketing the cash, she kissed it.  I had done something similar a few years ago.  I was hitting that metaphorical brick wall again in life and decided to do a road trip, against Josie’s approval I might add.  I ran out of gas money to get back home, so I sold my books near gas stations.  One of the books I was selling out of the trunk of my car was called, “Filling Up Your G.A.S. Tank”.  I couldn’t resist this serendipitous moment, so we stopped, and I asked her what her name is, she said, “Anne”.  I gave Anne my G.A.S. business card wrapped in a dollar bill along with a signed copy of my book.  Finally, I want to share a story about honesty.  Rosie was due for an oil change, so we stopped at a place called “Brake Masters’ #176” just off highway 95 in Bullhead City, AZ.  Their motto, “An honest Brake Since 1983”.  We were greeted by Eric, an enthusiastic and charismatic young man who stood behind the service counter.  While sitting in their waiting room, I overheard a conversation between Eric and another customer that went something like this.  “We just checked you brakes sir, and you have about 60 percent life remaining on your brakes.  Come into the garage and I’ll show you.”  The customer had just come from a major car dealership in town and was told his truck required new brakes all round, front and back!  He stopped in for a second opinion at Brake Masters’ and discovered a new honest relationship.