We’re sitting…
let me correct that.

I    am sitting in Carl’s Jr. watching
my now 6 year old son running and
climbing on the play structure.
Of course, to him it’s not Carl’s Jr.
- it’s that fun place with the star.
As I’m listening to the voices of the other children,
on two occasions I hear the words
“Do you want to be friends ?”
asked by some small voice somewhere
amidst the frolicking kiddos.

And I got to thinking…
Is it really that easy ?

What’s the first thing that came to
your mind when I asked that ?

When I asked that of myself, my thought was
“If only it were that easy”.

Which led to the next one;
“Why isn’t it?”
and
“Maybe it is… and we’re just too scared to ask.”

Many more questions, more analyzing, and more thinking.
Now I’m sitting here with you wondering what happened
between the time the child’s voice asked
“Do you want to be friends?”
and now, where society seems to believe that it’s just
not an acceptable question for mature adults to ask.

When was the last time you went to a social gathering
walked up to a complete stranger and asked
“Do you want to be friends?”

(…and I’m not going to wait for you to respond,
because I’m guessing it’s never happened
since you were like… 4.)

So why is it we don’t ask other people
“Do you want to be friends ?” ??

Is it because you have all the friends you need
and don’t need to make any more ?

Is it because you’re too busy to make new friends ?

If you’re like me, the very notion of doing such a thing
brings to mind a vision of looking like a fool,
bing laughed at, ridiculed, mocked, teased, belittled…
(it’s a longer list I won’t bore you with)

But here is the 2nd thing I realized as I watched
my son play with all of these kids who were
mere strangers just minutes before.

He expects the other kids to like him,
and he acts as if they will;
there’s not even a doubt !

AND THEY DO.

The kid is my idol when it comes to social skills

So I’m going to repeat that,
because I think it says volumes.

He expects the other kids to like him,
and he acts as if they will.

He knows other kids want to play with him
He knows other kids will like him
He knows they will accept him

AND THEY DO.

I always believed the opposite when I was a child.
I didn’t expect others to like me or want me around.
And I acted accordingly.
I was aloof, distant, anti-social, and avoided people.
It worked like a charm

So how is your Life working for you ?
How are you approaching others ?

Maybe you aren’t exactly asking people
“Do you want to be friends?”
 - but are you interacting with them
   knowing that they want to be around you ?
Are you believing that they like you ?

My theory is that if we truly believed that
other people want to know us, want to be around us,
and would love to be our friend – without a doubt;
we would not be afraid to ask, nor hesitate.
AND our actions and attitude would do the asking
even if we never did.

I have discovered the greatest secret
over the past few years;
it is a priceless realization the depths of which
I have not yet even begun to tap.

There are two amazing people here right now.
You
       and
                I.

And who wouldn’t want to be friends
with someone amazing ?!??

So…

Do you want to be Friends ?
There are some amazing people around you who do.

~Rob