When was the last time you had a long chat with a friend?  You know, the kind of talk where you can be totally present, and be immersed in the nuances of the conversation?  It’s probably been quite some time if you lead the average busy life in our society.  Work and family demands often take up the majority of our time.  As we get older, friendships can tend to take a backseat.

Yesterday I was able to have one of these phone conversations with a friend and I found it so restorative.  Being able to really listen, to dive into the process of catching up, and to LAUGH about life’s ups (and downs) really reinvigorated me.  After I hung up, I found myself smiling even after the laughs were long over, and was able to think about how much this person meant to me, how much our friendship renews my spirit. The rest of my day was lighter.

And the added benefit of this talk was that it was a complete surprise — we had not planned this. In a world where we have to schedule almost everything, and where we frequently use a emails to  plan “a good time to call,” it was refreshing to get carried into this lovely chat by pure spontaneity.

Sometimes reaching out on the spur of the moment provides a lovely diversion — so phone a friend and enjoy your time together!