Changing the Chi

Ever since moving to Collingswood, I've had the opportunity to blur the often-too-well-defined lines of my life by bringing a variety of friends together. It has been a revelation. In fact, it should have been on my "top 5" for why I love Cwood so much! I get to see all these new, wonderful sides to the people in my life through the eyes of the other people in my life.

Tonight, I had three of my dearest friends over for a walk and take-out. Two of them know each other very well, but the third had only heard about the others, and vice versa. I wasn't nervous about their liking each other or getting along ... but you just never know how such meetings will go.

After dinner, I excused myself from the dining room to have a smoke on the porch. I sat there gleefully listening to the three of them interact—their voices raising and lowering, their laughter bellowing, and the ice cream dishing. It warmed my heart!

As they were getting ready to leave, I looked at the mound of dirty dishes in the sink not as a chore, but as a happy remnant of a successful party. As I cleaned up, the sounds of the festivities replayed in my head.

My new apartment and I love bringing friends together. To quote one, "it changes the chi in the room." Yes, it sure does!