Hi folks,
I’m a big fan of trees, and I’m lucky enough to have a number of large trees on the property around my house. But they’re not just decoration – they’re functional. Between the shade and the evapotranspiration (I win the obscure word of the day contest) of a tree, they reduce the ambient air temperature as much as 9 degrees, and the temperature directly under a tree by as much as 25 degrees. They’re awesome.
The problem with trees is that they take a long time to grow. So when we had to remove two dying trees from our lot last year, we lost a bunch of shade with no quick way to regain it. We’ve since planted more trees, but it will take decades to realize the shading and cooling benefits of those new saplings.
The same concept applies to relationships.
No, seriously – hear me out.
The benefits of good relationships are innumerable – laughing at your stupid jokes, hugs, bailing you out of jail – but generally those benefits don’t manifest overnight. Meaning that I can’t reasonably expect the same kind of support from somebody I befriended yesterday as I can from a friend of 20 years.
And further, even long-standing relationships need constant investment. If I abandon a relationship for an extended period, I shouldn’t expect support when it’s convenient for me. I’m sure we’ve all seen too many relationships deteriorate over time as people take them for granted and fail to invest in them.
So, just like trees, we need to plan and care for our relationships. If we plan on working with individuals in the future, it benefits us to establish and invest in our relationship with them as early as possible. And if we already have a relationship established, we can’t afford to neglect it – we need to nurture it continually so it’s ready for us when we need it. Let’s get out there and make some friends!
Rex