Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Should I Go or Should I Stay?

Tonight I had a thought to share an excerpt from my book (Thinking out Loud)...here's one article from Chapter 3 that seems to be a crowd pleaser...Hope you enjoy.


When do you know when it is time to let go? Be it friendships, acquaintances or relationships, some of us could do without the excess baggage at times - those people and situations that add no real value or substance to our lives. In this life we encounter all sorts of people and it’s ultimately up to us to realize who are the ‘keepers’ and whom we should cut loose and when.

photo credit - collegecandy.com
Sometimes we come across people that we know from day one will be lifelong friends. Others are just there to serve a purpose along our journey, as we may learn an important life lesson and then they’re gone. Yet others are a test of our strength and discernment. For there are times when we meet people who we think are genuine and whose company we enjoy, yet we gain nothing spiritually or emotionally by having them around, for all they do is take up space and time in our lives. And no matter how hard you try to force it, they are just not meant to be there. There is no place for them in your life and most times they cause more conflict than good.

Not to sound like a cold-hearted person but life is like that sometimes. It’s like a young seedling that is trying to grow and push up among the weeds. In order for that sapling to grow into a strong, healthy plant, tree or flower it needs to break free from the weeds which will eventually choke off its supply of sunlight, air and nutrients needed. The same with people: sometimes you just need to break free from unhealthy people who may not have your best interests at heart, who may be envious, self-serving, opportunistic or just plain up to no good. Why would you want to hang around weeds anyway?

            Then there are the others that are just coming along for the ride to keep you company along your journey. They are neither here nor there. One day however something may happen to test the friendship, and then you may discover if this person was indeed a genuine friend. It doesn’t matter if several years go by, the possibility exists that this person was just around for a season and served their purpose in your life. And then there are those that give you support when you need it and you give them support. Sometimes it’s fun having them around, but what is more important is that you complement each other. No one is a burden to the other. 

           Life is all about learning the lessons and helping one another along the way. If you can find that in a friend then the journey becomes a little easier. Then there comes a time for that friend to leave. Sometimes it is voluntary sometimes involuntary. Circumstances brought you together and circumstances cause you to separate. By that time or maybe years later you would have learnt the lesson that friend brought to your life. If you have indeed learnt the lesson, then that friendship had value and it served its purpose.

Sometimes we never know why individuals enter our lives, but it is important that we can tell apart the true gems from the weeds and treat the former right, for good people don’t come along everyday. The weeds we should recognize early on, so as to eliminate the grief and make way for the people that matter most. If we can’t do this, we would be forever spinning ourselves into a web with people who are out to deceive us and bring us pain. It is important that we look inside, so that the company we keep reflect our philosophies. I’m sure we all have heard the saying when we were younger: “Show me your friends and I’ll show you who you are.” It rings true not only for when you were a child but encapsulates the purpose of friendships today and beyond.


“True friendship consists not in the multitude of friends, but in their worth and value.” Ben Jonson (1572 – 1637)



Want to read more? Why not purchase your own copy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Out-Loud-Carolyn-Correia/dp/1105184382

Or locally at all locations of RIK and Metropolitian Booksellers.


Thanks for stopping by...see you next time!

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Cheers