Relevance

Spent some time sitting on the patio yesterday getting some sun. Did some chores around the house. Felt good to do something after my episode and resting all weekend.

While sitting there with the sun on my body, I was thinking. Yeah, I know. Scary. Smoke coming out of my ears and all. No, I was thinking about a post that someone posted that mentioned our relevance briefly.

I was thinking about how so many people travel through our lives and are relevant to us. But are they relevant the rest of our lives? Maybe not. I started thinking of all the people I've met, served with, and worked with over the years. Then thought about how many I'm still in touch with.

When I say in touch, I might occasionally exchange likes or some other stupid emoji on comments. Or even go as far as commenting on a post. But does that mean they're relevant?

I don't know.

Christmas Messages

While drinking coffee this morning, I thought of an old friend who sends me a Merry Christmas message every year. He was with me once when I got the news of a family tragedy on Christmas day. He says he thinks of me every Christmas since then.

I sent him a message this morning telling him I appreciate him and having served with him. We never talk or exchange messages otherwise. But he is relevant to me. Should I reach out to him more? Or him to me? Possibly. Does it make him less relevant because I don't? Not sure.

I would think if we got together, it would be just like old times all over again. Surely he has changed, as I have. But we still have our pasts in common. We were relevant to each other at one time. Why would we still not be?

The Point

Maybe relevance isn't about frequency. Maybe it's about weight. Some people you talk to every day and they don't mean much. Others you hear from once a year and it hits different.

The people who showed up when it mattered. The ones who were there for the hard stuff. They carry weight that daily small talk never will.

Oh well. Time for some more coffee and to reach out to some more people. Make sure they know they are relevant to me.

Who's someone you don't talk to often but is still relevant to you?

Thanks for reading,
Joe

_{Notes:
-All content is mine unless otherwise annotated.
-Images are my own unless otherwise noted.
-Photos edited using Linux photo editor and drawing and/or iPhone SE.
-Page Dividers from The Terminal Discord.}