revjim.net

Life can, at times, get more hectic than we'd like it to be. Sometimes, we get caught up in own own lives — our work, our hobbies, our families, our travels, some of our friends — that we run out of time to check in with all of the people we care about. Sometimes, that communication gets cut off for so long, that we fall into a routine of not communicating with one another unless we need something from each other. I know it all too well because, from time to time, I've been on the delivering end of that cycle. But I've been on the receiving end of it as well, and it's starting to overwhelm me.

I also do my best to invest as much time as I can into the people that I care about in my life. I try to check in with people for no reason other than to say "hello". I try to send personal jokes to people that would appreciate them. I offer words of encouragement to those who need them. I flirt like mad with my little crushes who have admitted that it doesn't bother them. I call people out of the blue that enjoy talking on the phone. I even drop by on friends from time to time. It's just what I like to do.

But, I'm starting to feel like I'm investing a lot of time in people who don't have time to invest in me and I think it needs to stop.

I'm not angry. I'm not upset. I'm not taking my toys and going home. I do miss many of you. But I also understand that life catches up with people sometimes. I feel that you will understand my need to invest my time in those that will return my investment. I'll still be here if any of my friends need something from me and I'm sure you'll still be there for me, too. But the regular thoughts and considerations are probably better spent on other friendships. I'll always welcome contact from the people that I care about. If for some reason you feel that I'm becoming a bit distant, just reach out to me and I'm sure you'll see that distance close quite quickly.

I just need to do this for me. Because I'm spreading myself too thin and that will lead to me neglecting those that do have the time and energy to invest in me. And I really don't want to do that.