How intentional are you in creating meaning with your friends?
A year ago, I shared a quick post on LinkedIn that received more views than most. It was simply about a weekend I spent with one of my closest friends, Sacha Rosenthal, someone I’ve known for 35 years.
It feels appropriate to share that this week, we’ve expanded the circle to nine of us. This time, we’re celebrating the kickoff of turning 50.
Two down, six to go! The idea was to have one celebration that everyone could attend, representing all of us. A couple of buddies couldn’t make it, and one we dearly miss is no longer with us. However, five of the lads flew in from the UK, and four of us came from across the US—a true testament to the strength of our long-standing friendships, which span anywhere from 35 to 46 years between each of us.
Together, we’ve overcome career challenges, divorces, losses of friends and family members, major scares with our kids (thankfully, they turned out well), and our own health concerns. We’ve shown resilience, and despite the inevitable ups and downs of life, our mental health has remained strong. I’d say that’s directly linked to the strength of our friendships.
We’ve shared some incredible moments together—graduations, weddings, birthday parties, the births of our children, career successes, athletic achievements, and vacations. But just as important as these peaks have been the informal catch-ups, meaningful conversations, WhatsApp banter, sitting together in thought, enjoying a pint at the local, and simply being together. Sometimes just two of us, other times more, though it’s rare these days to gather all together in person.
As we enjoy this time together in Mont Tremblant, we embrace both the old and the new. There are so many meaningful memories to share from the past, plenty of banter and laughter, and new conversations and experiences to build our memory bank and further strengthen our friendships.
Research suggests you can simplify happiness into two things—meaningful relationships and meaningful experiences.
So, the question is:
How intentional are you with both?
Haven’t seen good friends in a while? Reach out.
Share some ideas, get their input, and make something happen. These are the moments that life is all about!