K.I.T.

Keep in touch otherwise know as K.I.T.  There isn't a yearbook around that doesn't have this scattered throughout its pages.  A standard when signing someone's yearbook, the sentiment was most likely genuine but the follow through was typically non existent.  At an age when we had more free time than anything else, we somehow always managed to never keep in touch.  Even as we hugged goodbye and wrote our numbers down next to the obligatory "call me over the summer", we knew we weren't going to stay in contact and we really didn't know or have a reason why.  As an adult we still have that genuine desire to stay in contact with our family and friends, but now we have reasons for why we don't.  The reasons or in most cases excuses are too long to list.  Of course work and family are our priorities but what else is there that keeps us from making an effort with those that we care about.  The reality of it is, it doesn't take much time to check in with someone every once in awhile.  I'm not talking about a one liner on Facebook or a quick IM via email, I'm talking about a real conversation in person or at the very least on the phone, and yes texting counts (I'm not a phone person).   I used to be one of those "I've been busy"  "I'll find time later" people.  Lately though I'm making a conscious effort to reach out to those that I've lost touch with as well as those that I haven't.  I've realized that I was so "busy" that I was missing out on one of the greatest things in my life, my friendships.  Without our friends and family, both of which can be completely interchangeable, what's the point of everything else.  The stresses of life are much easier to bear when you have a good support system, but you can't have that if you don't make an effort to build and maintain one.

They say that life is short and you have to cherish those around you while you have them, but I think life is quite long we just don't use the time that we're given appropriately.  Jobs come and go, bills will sit until their paid but people are only here for a certain period of time and we have no idea how long that will actually be.  I don't know about you but I'd rather regret the late fee on a bill than a missed opportunity to spend time with or reach out to someone that I care about.

Make a conscious effort to keep in touch with the people in your life.  Whether it be a note in the mail, a text or a lunch date that is way overdue, just take a moment to do something to let them know that you're thinking of them.  They might not return the favor but at least you made the effort.  Who knows you might end up with a better friendship than you had before, and if nothing else the "I wonder how they're doing" will have been answered.

“Short as life is, we make it still shorter by the careless waste of time” ~ Victor Hugo

XO ~KG