Being in a new state, in a new city, at a new job, at a new church, in a new role…hundreds of miles away from my closest family and friends is requiring me to form and foster new relationships.

Here are a few things I’m learning thus far:

Emotional effort and energy are essential. No investment. No return.
Authenticity and vulnerability are accelerators. The more I disclose the faster the relationship grows.
Need and desire are initiators. People who don’t want new friends aren’t great candidates as friends.
Pickiness and prejudgements are obstacles. I’d rather be in the process of making a friend in an imperfect situation than be friendless waiting for the perfect situation to present itself.
Humility and meekness are required. If you are convinced you can live this life void of several quality, loving relationships, that’s not preference, that’s pride.