Who We Hang Around With

“If I wasn’t me, I’d want to hang around with me all the time.”

–     tongue in cheek comment offered by my friend, Randy Watson, the master of self-deprecation 

Once, after barely missing out of the “Circle of Excellence” award our employer gave out, Randy lamented that he would now simply strive for the “Oblong Sphere of Mediocrity.”  He was kidding.  He is a funny man.  He’s also driven.  And smart.  And humble.

Like most of the people I am thankful for this holiday season.

Like most of my close friends, Randy’s a go-to guy when the chips are down.  Or, when the chips aren’t down, for that matter.

Who we hang around with / associate with makes a difference, doesn’t it?

There are energy-enhancing peeps in our networks and lives, and there are energy-drainers.  There are fun people and “fun sponges.”  (They can suck all the fun out of any room…)  There are people who provide inspiration and people who cause perspiration.  There are people who can find a solution to any problem and people who can find a problem in any solution.

At work.  At home.  At church.  In the neighborhood.

Who we hang around with is a choice.  I can’t help but wonder how much of a difference will it make when we choose more carefully?

This Thanksgiving week, I am thankful to be blessed by many who make me better simply by being who they are.  Randy Watson is one of them.  If I started a list of the others, this post would get way too long way too quickly, and I might leave someone off.

Another way to make a difference, especially this Thanksgiving week, is to tell as many of our difference makers as possible that they make a difference for us — to thank the ones we want to hang around with all the time.