Monday, August 14, 2006

Remember Pee Wee's Word of the Day?

"Effortless" -- that was the description he used. I heard the word the rest of the day.

The Fray sings it slowly sans percussion in their Top 20 pop entry and you can't help feeling like you're falling into it. Trouble is the word refers to losing someone and what it takes to do so.

Effortless -- I applied it to my friendships and it seems to fit. I want knowing me to be effortless. Need a job? I flip through my mental rolodex and make a connection or two. Wanna play? I'll keep up with the gang's wants/needs and insure a relatively stress free experience. Conversation at the midnight hour? Sure. Whatever? I'm there.

E says I want from someone what I give. She says that I make folks a priority and that I'm looking to be someone's priority. She's right (wise girl that e).

But I forget the effort it takes to be effortless. And so I want what's not possible -- a place in someone's heart and mind without him having to go to the trouble to clean up a few things and make room.

"Doing unto others as I would have ...." has never been difficult for me. But I've come to realize that I see that as an act requiring reciprocation and it's not. My thoughts have tended toward, "if I do unto you, you'll do back unto me." Not true, is it?

Definitely not effortless!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

if you can truly and honestly use the word effortless when it comes to friendships...then i believe you be a saint...as well as a friend...

because i know me...and since you count me a friend...i understand the saintly-hood of the being you must be if you do...in fact...wish to use this word still...

...this isn't to say that i don't believe you...it is only to say...yes...karen...i believe you to be a saint...a funky one with great hair...but a saint!

Anonymous said...

knowing you...i realize how it must bother you to be called a saint...

which only further proves my point!

i know you are normal...for the most part...but when it comes to friendship...you come close to this one guy i know...his name is jesus...

(psst..that makes you a saint)

KC said...

obviously "processing" out loud on this one and what I think I'm coming to is that some folks require much of us and we feel every moment of it but then there are those people for whom we care so deeply that the care far outweighs any energy we feel we expend on their behalf . . . thus it feels effortless