Do you enjoy solitude, or do you enjoy being surrounded by others?

Are you a people person, or do you resonate more with Greta Garbo who quipped, “I want to be alone”?

I think I can safely say that most people like a healthy balance of both. I know I do.

I am more than content to be by myself, playing music, reading, exercising, cooking; but sometimes, I can feel lonely, with just my thoughts for company, echoing through my mind.

Ultimately, I love having people around me, being part of a team, that wonderful feeling of belonging, achieving a common goal together, or just simply supporting each other and being there for each other.

I have cultivated a large circle of friends. I belong to a football team, a circle of spiritually and psychic-gifted people, and last but by no means least, I belong to Team Heaven.

How does being surrounded by people benefit my life?

They bring to my life ~

• Positivity
• Happiness
• Support
• Camaraderie

Why?

Because we ~

• Are all in this together
• Win together and lose together
• Never take negativity from defeat, only positivity, and the desire to move forwards
• Have a laugh on days/nights out ~ laughter really is the best medicine
• Chat and tell each other what's going on in our lives
• Check in on each other's wellbeing
• Listen to each other's problems, giving our opinions and sound advice on how to help
• Are always truthful, and there’s 100% trust ~ we've got each other’s back
• Tell each other our hopes and dreams, and offer encouragement to keep each other on track with our goals

So what advice would I give in order to surround yourself with a fabulous group of friends?

• Find a new hobby which involves other people ~ birds of a feather, flock together!
• Find out what’s going on in your area and join a club, a choir, a cookery class, an exercise class, a walking group. The options are endless.
• Look back at your friendships from the past. Reach out and try to reconnect.
• Re-discover your friendship, what made it special, and is it worth the effort of getting in touch?

Social media can be helpful for this, however, social media can also be a lonely place, endlessly scrolling through other people’s lives. You may think you’re engaging with people by leaving a comment, but nothing is more rewarding than an actual conversation face-to-face rather than speaking via emojis.

• Live in the present. Live in the real world ~ not the virtual…
• Start making plans to see friends and loved ones sooner rather than later, and stick to those plans, rather than cancelling at the last minute with a crap excuse because you can’t be bothered to put in a little effort.

It’s good to talk ~ to connect ~ to share problems ~ to seek advice or give advice.

That's what friends are for. And that is why I enjoy being surrounded by others.