Everyone Can't Be in Your Front Row
I first wrote about this concept in 2006 and with the recent events with open heart surgery decided to go back and revisit this as I was again deeply humbled by everyone since my surgery.
Friends and friendship have been presented before as that is one of the things you go through in your life and hopefully as you get older, there are those you have around you every day, those that are there for you without daily or recent contact. You know they are there for you or would be there if you needed them.
This was a simple analogy, and I do not know where it originally came from or who the author is. The words and concept have me thinking and looking at the different possibilities from my own life as different people have come and gone over the years.
I’ll comment more at the end of this post, so think about this concept and see where your own mind and life takes you.
Life is a theatre – invite your audience carefully.
Not everyone is healthy enough to have a front row in our lives. There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a distance. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you let go, or at least minimize your time with draining, negative, incompatible, not-going-anywhere relationships, friendships, and fellowships!
Observe the relationships around you.
Pay attention to: Which one’s lift, and which ones lean?
Which ones encourage and which ones discourage? Which ones are on a path for growth uphill and which ones are going downhill?
When you are around then leave certain people, do you feel better or worse? Which ones always have drama or don't really understand, know and appreciate you and the gift that lies within you?
The more you seek quality, you will also seek things honorable - the more you seek respect, growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you, the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the front row and who should be moved to the balcony of your life.
You cannot change the people around you...but you can change the people you are around. Ask for wisdom and discernment and choose wisely the people who sit in the front row of your life.
One final thought – 2025
Everything happens for a reason.
Nothing happens by chance or by means of good or bad luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small and sometimes major tests, if they be events, illnesses or relationships, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. How boring is that?
Sometimes we seek problems so we can find answers to our lives. Experience it, adapt and overcome the obstacles in your life then live it as fully as you can!