My Addiction

Walker Art Center, Minneapolis

I've been meaning to talk about this for awhile. 

I have an addiction.  A serious one:

I'm addicted to people. 

Thinking back, I always have been.  Ever since I was a little kid.  I love being around people.  I've been having trouble formulating this blog entry, so I thought I'd try this.  I'm going to list my thoughts numerically.  Hope they aren't too disjointed to follow!

1.  I always had a lot of friends.  When I was in elementary school, I always wanted a Best Friend.  Everyone had a Best Friend.  Turns out I was way better equipped to be friends with everyone.  My dad actually told me at one point that it is better to have a lot of good friends than one best friend.  That was a hard lesson for me, but I blew a couple Best Friend chances, big time.  My dad was right.

2.  I can't get enough.  I love how people work and how they respond.  I am facinated by politians, celebrities, and my real life friends.  I love books like Blink, that explore how we react and respond.  I love analyzing relationships and am facinated by how people get along.

3.  My favorite job EVER was serving.  I worked at Doolittles (ah, the air cafe...) for four years.  Being around the other servers and waiting on tables was the best.ever.  I miss it, and hope to do it again someday.

4.  I've been accused of being addicted to social media.  I love Facebook, and my blog.  I've been on Twitter for awhile, too, but it's not my mainstay.  I'm not addicted to any of those outlets, but the people in them.  As I became reacquainted with people, I often remember why I liked them in the first place.  Everyone has something to give.  Everyone has something to share.  We learn from each other.  Bits and Pieces.  If it were possible, I'd like everyone I'm in touch with to sit in my living room and visit with me.  Virtually, that happens every day.

5.  I genuinely love people.  I hate to see people suffer, and I feel deep joy when others are happy.  I'm deeply invested in politics, but not just for the politicians, but mostly for the people.  If I could be a fairy godmother, I would.  In a heartbeat.  I'm convinced that God wired me this way; and very little of it is my own desire or effort.

6.  I work really hard to make sure my boys are good communicators.  We talk to everyone we meet...at the grocery store, drive-thrus, school, everywhere.  My addiction is a blessing.  I hope they inherited it naturally and work to make it a fine art.

Yep.  My name is Leanne and I'm a humanaholic.  (I made that up.  I like it.)

Thank you for being part of my addiction.