Value in Separation

          There comes a point in time when you've just had it.  Enough is enough! No more, none!  For example, when you're reading a book with many characters, twisting plots, and realistic references; your brain tends to become overwhelmed after a certain point.  Too much of something will help bring out the best in you, however, it may also bring out the worst!

          Let's look at overdoses.  The people injecting heroin into their bloodlines enjoy the short term effects of it, but will eventually kill themselves in the long run.  Somewhere during that occurrence, their bodies attempted to tell them that it could not take anymore.

          Overdoses don't have to necessarily result from drugs though.  My definition of a personal overdose pertains to the user more than the content that is being induced upon the recipient.  To me, a personal overdose is when the user willingly chooses to accept more than what is needed.  

          For example, most nutritionists advise men trying to bulk up with minimal fat intake to eat a protein portion that is about the size of their fists, so that their stomachs, which are roughly the size of their fists, can properly digest the food safely, letting the person eating know that their is a certain limit per portion.  Anything above that fist/stomach sized portion, to me, can be considered a personal overdose since it is not needed.  Even more so, an actual overdose in regards to fat intake and arterial failure can be avoided.  

          Does my definition make sense?  I think so.

          Let's look at musicians as well.  Some choose to explore different areas with their sound, while others maintain the sound that got them recognized.  I think that it is safe to say that my favorite bands: AFI, Thrice, The Beatles, Avenged Sevenfold, Linkin Park, Darkest Hour, have all evolved accordingly.  They took a necessary separation that allowed them to evolve and not write the same record over and over again.

          To all my friends, you know that you do mean the world to me.  You are a huge part of my world and everyday life.  I'd hate to lose any of you.  Please realize that I do distance myself from you to allow you to not depend on me on an everyday basis.  I feel that as a friend, it is my job to be there for you to the best of my ability.  However, that is not to say that I want to become a part of your everyday life.  We are different, but we have qualities that unite us, and me not being there for all of you all the time has a value.  One cannot progress if they find themselves constantly leaning on the shoulder of another.  At one point, we must all grow our wings and fly to the skies of our desires.  I can't be the one stopping you; that's the last thing a friend should do.  

          This is not to say that I am speaking of myself highly, but I feel that everyone is entitled to space, and that their choices upon discovering this are unlimited!  How would you feel if you had the right amount of time off from everyone you knew and ended up discovering a new talent?  

          People always want to go far away for college to "get the experience" and then either never end up going, or some end up going and not liking it. Information is out there, it is up to you to separate yourself from your everyday standards and occasionally push yourself.  The risk is worth the gain; and no, this doesn't necessarily pertain to college.  

          Learning something on your own is just as inevitable as death.  At some point, you've just got to face it, the only questions that can't be answered just yet are always "when?" and "how?"  If your friends are really your friends, time will tell.  Those who wait for you, those who think of you, those who support every single thing you do, those are the truest of all of your friends.  True friends see the benefits of temporary separation since it gives them more free time to pursue and achieve their goals.

          When I don't see a friend for a long time, it is a bittersweet experience, and I love it.  There's nothing worse than saying "eh, I pushed you to the side"; yet, nothing's better than seeing your friend succeed without you after a period of time and still care about you as if not a day has passed since your last gathering.  So to all my friends, I'm not sorry if I haven't seen you in a while, I just feel that you deserve "you time" as much as I deserve "me time".  It's the only way we'll progress.  Forget that person trying to fit into your circle who'll then put themselves in the center of their own universe and use you for their own benefit.  Think of the friend who's known you for years, and is always genuinely happy to see you after extended periods of elapsed time.

RB