Chances are few reading this have graced the world’s stage. We all know celebrities and those who have gone viral, fifteen minutes of fame, and all that. But for the rest of us, we can make our ripple in our corner of the world. This isn’t about marketing, but about relationships and joy.
I’ve played music all my life and don’t know everybody in the local Musician’s Hall of Fame. People can live a hundred years in your hometown and you don’t see them once. We all have our own lives, but maybe we, including my fellow introverts, could stand to get out more.
That might not be filling your schedule, but simply nurturing those friendships you’ve already built: a lunch, a quick talk, a bit more than “How ya’ doin’?”. Might be profitable.
You may be happy with a dozen friends or shoot for ten times that; either is fine. I’m not great at it, but am becoming more mindful of the importance of community. Enjoy the ride and those on it with you.
I’ve proofread obituaries for years working at a newspaper. They all talk about the relationships made along the way, obviously. A recent one stuck with me, though: the man who kept in touch with thousands via writing letters.
He was highlighted for the volume and value of his writing – not publications, but simple correspondence – to friends, family, colleagues, acquaintances. He continually wrote to people around the world, so much that he was memorialized for how lasting these connections were.
Yes, there are many who correspond with many people, and countless prolific writers, but he was exceptional in my eyes. This social butterfly of the written word spent a staggering amount of time connecting with people, over the joys and trials, the monumental and incidental stuff of life.
The late gentleman always worked to keep in touch with his fellow human beings. Not for social clout, not to get a better job, but to get closer to everyone he knew, introvert and extrovert, cousin and colleague.
This lifelong passion was part of what spurred me on to start reconnecting with my friends from ages past, and get a bit closer to those nearby: the potential for chatting, enthusing, groaning over every conceivable subject, the stuff that makes life special and interesting.
Life is a breath, but a sweet one, whether conveyed by the tongue or the pen, filled with words and wonder. Keep in touch.
Musician Multifaceted musician. Playing music since I was knee-high to a piano. Keyboardist, bassist, trombonist, guitarist, nerdiest. Classical composer, electronic sample combiner, game song remixer, songwriter/lyricist. A bit like the “Soul” movie guy, sans manhole. • Soundcloud: GentryTunes • Instagram: GentryTunes
Writer Natural wordsmith. Shares a humorous take on life; serious on occasion. Great with prose, excellent proofreader. Experienced in journalism from an editorial and advertising perspective. Might publish a book with equal parts J.R.R. Tolkien and Douglas Adams. • Medium: AWGentry
Tech Certified Web Design Specialist and professional web tech. Digs into all things web design and marketing. Business webmaster, freelance developer. Programming long before vibe coding was a thing. Familiar with HTML, JS, CSS, CMSs, SMM, SEO, and other geekish acronyms. • Portfolio: coming soon
