All Dressed Up and Down

When life isn't going exactly the way we'd like, it can be difficult to find the strength to pick ourselves up and keep on going.  There are times when simply staying in and curling up with a good book or shutting down while the characters from our favorite shows fill the room with familiar voices offers the just the right level of comfort and solace.  In times like this, it's often said that withdrawing from your friends and loved ones is the last thing you want to do... but I don't know how true I find this statement.  Personally, I don't see anything wrong with taking a night off from life to unwind and try to forget about all those things that are weighing us down.  To escape from time to time.  Just like our laptops and cell phones reach that critical, low battery threshold now and then - begging us to plug them in and let them recharge - our bodies and minds require breaks.  And we would be remiss not to allow ourselves respite.

On the flip side, I think it's important to remember that getting out and mixing it up is how we build our support systems.  The friends we make through various societal meanderings.  The important contacts we acquire by hobnobbing and networking.  These are vital relationships that can act as insurance, offering unparalleled peace of mind.  The knowledge that we will never have to face our problems alone.  At times, we may not feel capable of getting cleaned up, fixing our hair, putting on our favorite outfits, and faking smiles in spite of life.  We may not even feel that reaching out to these people will do us any good when the chips are down and the gears start to grind.  Regardless, we can count on our support systems: friends, family, coworkers, and even at times those fringe acquaintances who surprise us by reaching out and letting us know they care.  These systems - a product of our social interactions and careful cultivation of interpersonal relationships - are always there!

I'm guilty of sometimes forgetting this.  Taking it for granted, even.  Especially when things are good my perceived need for support is comparatively limited or non-existent.  But on my worst days, I know that all I have to do is say the word and in moments I'll be reaping the incomparable reward of all that preparatory socializing.  Networking.  Conversing.  Shaking hands and introducing.  Sending friend requests.  Following.  Recognizing, smiling, and waving.  This is how we come to know the people we know, and grow to be able to count on them when we need a helping hand.

So the moral of the story?  If you have the energy, go out!  Make friends.  Meet new people.  Keep developing your closest networks and nurture those all-important family connections.  Get cleaned up, fix your hair, put on your favorite outfit, and smile like you f*ckin' mean it!  And when you need to recharge, by all means recharge.  We'll all still be here when you're ready to come back out and play!