I Get by With a Little Help From My Friends

Most of you are familiar with the words to this classic Beatles tune: "I get by with a little help from my friends, I get high with a little help from my friends, Gonna try with a little help from my friends"

I’ve appreciated my family, friends, and business colleagues lately. Not that I didn't enjoy them before, but this is a new season for me. We all learn much from our relationships and experiencing life.  

This commentary was birthed from the random thoughts that roll through my ADD head. If that's of interest, read on. 

Snow Flurries. A couple of trips recently took me to cities that can get cold. In both locations, the weather was in the 20’s with light snow flurries. As a California native, I began to realize that Southern California living is entirely different than other parts of the country. 

Different isn’t better. It’s just different. Most of our friends are looking to getting out of California for a variety of reasons…and others are flocking to come here, I think in part due to our pleasant weather.

We all deal with changing conditions. Changing weather, the trials of life, personal situations, health issues, or business challenges. Those light, “friendly” snow flurries I enjoyed in balmy 20-degree weather will turn into a snowstorm at some point. Changing temperatures create a new environment for a season. That’s a reality. Wherever you are in life, there is nice "pleasant weather" you enjoy, and then there are storms that come with new challenges.

Throughout these different seasons in life, quality personal relationships matter. This is not a knock on social media or texting. Our lives and communication methods have changed in today’s tech-driven society, and I embrace it all. But there is something to be said about the quality personal relationships that touch all areas of our lives.

Family First. Some may have dysfunctional connections here, but where there is health, embrace family. They are unique, and you are connected in a way that differs from friends. 

Friends. Do you have a few people that you can go deep with? Are they able to pour into your life? Do they encourage you and call you out when that’s appropriate? Value them.

Mentors. These can be business or personal mentors you look up to and trust for advice. As I started to ponder this commentary, I realized I haven't had a “mentor” for a while. I have friends who sort of fill this role, but I think it’s good to have a mentor that’s outside of that circle who can provide a different perspective. I’m going to work on that.

On the topic of mentors, for my friends in the promotional marketing industry, I would be remiss if I did not mention the PromoKitchen mentor program. PromoKitchen is an excellent source of content and an asset to our industry. I'm a mentor, and it's rewarding. You can learn more about this program here.

My wife and I are blessed to have relationships in several different communities.

Fitness Community. Our running/cycling/hiking communities are diverse. At the core, we support and encourage each other wherever we are on our fitness journey. From that, deep, valuable friendships have been nurtured. 

Cigar Clientele. Judge me if you like, but I have found that occasionally smoking a cigar with friends has opened my eyes to all the things that are going on in people’s lives and around the world. Here, meaningful relationships have also been developed. We go deep in discussions about all kinds of things.

Faith Community. Faith is an integral part of our lives, and we are blessed to have longtime friendships with people who share these values. There are many great places of worship in our city, and we are thankful to be actively engaged with one of them.

We walk through life with these people. And they all have an impact on my life. I’m SO thankful for our community and my friendships. Consider your relationships. One positive to our social media, online driven society is our ability to stay loosely connected with old and new friends. 

Consider the value relationships of all types have on your life. 

Coming back to the profound words of Lennon and McCartney: “I get by with a little help from my friends, I get high with a little help from my friends, gonna try with a little help from my friends.” I won’t speak to the middle line, which makes for an interesting lyric, but I can speak to the other lines.

It’s not too hard to understand getting by with help from my friends, but what about trying with a little help my friends. In my life and community, we are continually doing new things. There is always a challenge, or unique experience available to us. So, I try with a little help from my friends.

Next up…an insightful commentary on I Am the Walrus. (There’s a branded product in these lyrics.) 

"I am he as you are he as you are me, And we are all together, See how they run like pigs from a gun, See how they fly, I'm crying

Sitting on a corn flake. Waiting for the van to come. Corporation T-shirt, stupid bloody Tuesday. Man you've been a naughty boy, You let your face grow long…"

Adding in "I am a Walrus" to this piece?  WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? Well, I qualify these commentaries as thoughts rolling through my ADD head. And somehow I went there. (Keyboard drop.)