Investing in Relationship

Was checking one of my favourite blogs for her brownies recipe and found a very sweet sharing by the author on building community and her childhood experience  :)

Full blogpost:
http://weekofmenus.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/brownies-having-community.html?m=1

Here's a snippet:

But I'll give the much credit to one man, one of my father's friends who probably was the greatest engineer of this amazing community of my childhood.  Dr. S planted his roots first in California with his family, and when he saw the opportunities here - he told all of his Korean medical school buddies to come join him.  All of the families had been scattered in various locations in the US, my own family in Illinois, and he encouraged his friends to come West.  I have no idea what the conversation was like, but knowing him, I know that he was warm, inviting, and persuasive.  And he knew what he wanted and he wanted his friends to feel success and he wanted his friends nearby.

I'm certain that it is Dr. S's efforts those 40 plus years ago that have paved the way for my parents' rich and full lives in retirement.  My dad still calls up his friends, they have a standing regular weekly golf game, and I think, because of technology, they even text each other. When they gather (which they do still often) there is the familiar banter and joy of many years of knowing one another.  They have seen each other through hard times, gone to the weddings of their friends' children, and rejoiced together at the births of grandchildren. 

And more than anything, this experience has taught me the importance of investing in those relationships that will take you to your later years.  Being gracious, kind, loving, community minded, or dare I say "Village" minded ultimately is an investment in the graciousness and fullness of your later life.  Valuing human relationships - the way you treat others and those around you profoundly affects not only you, but also your children and the relationships they build.  If they see you building your community, they will also want their own.  If they see you treating your friends as treasures - as people that you wish to surround yourself with and grow old with, they will also want the same - and that, I think is one important value that parents can teach their children.

Ahahaa. That's quite a long snippet. Anyway I'm inspired.💪🏻
We can all be Dr S!