There is nothing so good for the soul as catching up with an old friend and over the past two days I have been lucky enough to do this twice. 

The first, a friend from school who is living a parallel life to me just only in the city instead of the country. Even though we are miles apart, we both feel the same about our current existence and are finding the same irritations with our daily lives. Its funny how you can be so far apart yet so close. We both have young children and wonder how the time between 3pm and 6pm stretches so long each day that you are alone with the children yourself. Just how does that stretch of time seem to go on forever? Then there is the inevitable history talk, remember when we did ‘insert any childless antics once performed BC (before children) here’ and the giggles that go with reminiscing about the fun that we had prior to our lives becoming complicated with relationships, children and careers. Speaking of careers, we share stories of our craving for time to just ‘go to work’ instead of always trying to juggle our work and home responsibilities. The time goes too quickly and soon its time for a feed/nappy change/lunch/tantrum and our time together is over, for another couple of months until we can arrange another catch up. “Miss you” I yell as we are walking our seperate ways…

The second was an old, old friend from a million years ago and taught me a great lesson about assumptions. We reconnected a few months ago after not seeing each other for 15 years and I hd a whole fantasy story in my mind of where I thought she had travelled, studied, who she had married, everything. Turns out I was completely wrong and so it has been lovely to find out the actual true account of her life and where she has been all these years. Our kids share a play at the park and we sit on the bench, or wander around from swings to slides, chatting about old times and filling in the blanks. Whilst we weren’t that close when we were younger, only seeing each other maybe twice a year, it warms my heart to be able to reconnect now as adults and share the friendship our kids are creating together. 

Both of these catch ups remind me of how lucky I am to come from a town that is beautiful enough to come back to. Whether my friends are coming back to visit their parents, just stopping by on their way through town or relocating back home to enjoy the beaches, parks and cruise lifestyle I am lucky to reconnect with so many people as the years go by. And everything is only even 10mins away.

Reach out to someone and reconnect, even if its just online. It’s so good for the soul.