A friend confided he is not throwing his annual holiday gathering anymore. He said a lot of the people who attend he only sees at the party and no other time during the year. It is also a big expense and requires a lot of preparation. I attended a few of these soirees and they were a lot of fun. The buffet was abundant with great food, the drinks flowed, we played holiday games, and everyone seemed to have a really good time. But I am glad my friend recognized the party was a tradition he was not going to obligate himself to. He didn’t speak as if he felt used by anyone, but what was the point if these friends were not consistent?

Look at the people are who are in your life. Are they always there or do they only come around once in a while? And if they are there occasionally is it because both your lives are busy or is the friendship one sided? If it is one sided, are you the one side or are they?