You’re sitting at home on the couch, flipping through blogs or magazines, and you see a picture of a small gathering of people. You think to yourself that looks like fun but having a party or entertaining is so much work.
Well…yes, it is.
However, there are many benefits to a gathering, too.
1. Getting together with friends gives you perspective.
Having a good friend come over gives you a chance to share what’s going on in your life and basically dump the crazy stuff out of your head. When you’re struggling with an issue with one of your kids and your friend doesn’t seem to get ruffled at all about your freaked out tales, that gives you perspective. Oh, you mean it’s not the end of the world? It will work out. You can step back and realize that there’s more than one way to look at things.
2. Friends encourage friends.
Okay, do I even have to explain myself with this one? Friends hold each other up. We need to get together more often with close friends.
3. You can find motivation and learn something new.
So you talking with your friends and someone starts talking about kayaking. What? That sounds so scary? Why would someone kayak? But the more they share about how nice it is to get out on the water, the more you realize, hmmm, maybe I should try it. It’s something new.
Or maybe you’re the one who shares your passion with a friend, and they try it out.
4. Sharing your life with someone gets you out of you.
Lately, you’re feeling a bit sorry for yourself for whatever reason. Your boss at work is grumpy and is taking it out on you. You can’t lose that last 15 lbs, You hate the rain (you’d never know I live in the Pacific Northwest.). But you have some friends over that are struggling with an unemployed spouse or they share about another friend who got “the call” from their doctor and the news is not good.
Then you realize that you don’t have it that bad. You stop your pity party and put on a better attitude.
5. You are guaranteed to laugh.
For being a “not-so-fun mom,” I have to say the older I’ve become, the more I laugh. Good friends have secret jokes and crazy stories that they share. They can be so real with each other and melt with one another if they need to.
I can’t name the study that says laughter is so important for our well being but we all know the value of laughter in our lives. Admit it; it’s fun to laugh with other people.
When I close the door as my last guest leaves, I always think to myself, “Why did I wait for so long to have them over?”
Share with me what benefit rings true in your life?
