I grew up in northern Oklahoma with real life familiarity wrapped around me like wide-blue skies around rolling prairies. My last name of O’Neill put me right at home on my country lane, literally called O’Neill Lane. In the very real sense, my neighbors equaled family. For my entire growing-up years, I went to school in the same smallish town followed by college only forty miles away. Not once did I have to work to meet people; friends were always there.
That is, until a good lookin’ Air Force man won my heart, put a ring on my finger, and took me from Oklahoma to the moon.
OK, it was Ohio. But to me? It could have been the moon. I didn’t know a sole and had to figure out how to build relationships without the crutch of a shared history. How do I get to know people – let alone form relationships with them – and be a part of their community? When the scariness of putting myself out there overwhelmed me? When it seemed like so much work?
Will you join me here to read some things I learned {mostly the hard way}?
So true! It’s hard to stick your neck out sometimes, but so worth it!
It’s my prayer I get better at friendship. I have a small group I adore, they are so wonderful, but it still doesn’t come easily to me. I feel awkward and unsure of myself.
Janelle
GraceTags