The gist of one of my favorite quotes is “My future holds new and important characters in my story,” basically, that you haven’t met all of the people who are going to impact your life. There are unforeseen relationships (and opportunities) coming your way that will surprise and delight you.
What a wonderful reminder.
I love it so much that I have all of these versions of it saved on my phone.
I think about it often and how grateful I am that it’s true. I’ve made so many new wonderful friends over the past few years.
Yet, every time it happens, my brain is still shocked. Despite how much I think about it, a small part of my brain still tells me “Surely, you’ve met all the people you’re going to feel close with? How could you make room for more?” The heart can make room, brain. Come on.
Somewhat related (? but maybe not), I’ve been thinking about the people I met who I don’t mesh with. And I always say “they’re just not for me.” Logically, I know there is no one EVERYONE likes. You can’t be everyone’s cup of tea.
But if I am okay with saying someone is “not for me” why why why does my brain want EVERYONE to like me, and feel hurt when they don’t? Come on, brain.
I know we just chatted about this, but to say it again, I LOVE this sentiment. I’ve barely known one of my closest friends for 2 years and she ended up being SO helpful when I was really struggling earlier this year. You just never know who will come into your life, or when, or why.
I was discussing not being everyone’s cup of tea with someone the other day too! Basically we were talking about how dating in your 40’s is SO different than in your 20’s because you generally have more confidence and fewer insecurities. I desperately wanted everyone to like me when I was younger and would take it personally if they didn’t. These days I get that I’m not for everyone and am totally fine with that. Hopefully your brain can find a way to be okay with that too 🙂
Thank you for inspiring me to share about it! And I love love love hearing that you have that person. It’s funny right, like, you don’t expect the person you’ve known a shorter amount of time to be the one who is so there for you, but it happens!!!
OMG we are totally on the same wavelength this week! Ha! Thanks for sharing that. And I am getting to that shift. Like I remember in my 20s (in the height of the running days) I would hang out with everyone and just wanted friends and yep, people to like me. Now I am much more selective and know what I am looking for. Damn, did we talk about this when we were together? You always make me think – thank you!
And yay for dating being better in your 40s!
Maybe that shift magically occurs when you actually turn 40 🙂
I don’t think we did talk about that because I was still very new to the whole dating thing and had no idea what I was doing haha. My friend and I call it “Dating with Maturity” and have found MANY advantages to being older and (somewhat) wiser. Like you said, you know what you want by this point in life – and have probably experienced what you DON’T want – so you can be selective about who gets some of your time/energy/attention.
Maybe!!!
Oh yeah – I was confusing, I meant did we talk about friends we had then vs now 🙂 I love that you’re getting into the swing of Dating with Maturity TM (LOL)!!! And heck yes to being decisive about what gets my time/energy/attention! That’s basically what I’ve been in therapy for this year, ha.
👯♀️👯♀️ to all of this.
I always think, if I never leave my house, how am I going to meet new people? Ah, friends bring them to your house! 😉😁
I feel more confident now than I did when I was younger (about people liking or not liking me) and it still bothers me when people don’t like me but not as much. I wish my brain and heart could get on the same page!
Ha! Courtney! I am 💀💀💀 over that comment! I mean, it worked, right?!
You get it. It’s so odd. Like it’s totally normal and fine but still stings!
I think about this with books all the time. I read so many mediocre/fine books, but there are still books I LOVE that are out there that I haven’t read and even some that aren’t written yet! How exciting every time you start a new book!
Omg yes! With books and movies and music and so much more! There are so many unwritten books out there that are going to change your life!
Ugh, rationally I know that people are not for everyone… I mean, I know I meet people and think “they’re just not on my wave length”, but I always get disappointed when that happens to me… I think it’s worse if you think you jive with someone and they think you don’t…. then the brain gets all confused.
I had that happen once where I was trying to befriend someone and first got positive feedback and felt encouraged, but then they basically told me to stop “stalking” them. Wow, talk about two completely different perceptions.
Oh geesh! I am sorry it happened to you that way 🙁 That’s such a crummy feeling!