Hi all
A bit of a background...
I am 50 and have worked for 20 years in a field that is known for high workload, long hours and high mental load. This has worsened significantly in the last couple of years and I'm afraid to say that, during that time, a lot of my life as 'slipped'. Over the past 6-12 months my health (physical and mental) has also dipped due to work related stress. I've dealt with it by keeping my head down, putting the blinkers on and just getting on with things.
I slowly dropped all of my hobbies as I just didn't have the time/mental capacity to do them anymore and friendships have either fallen by the wayside or not been fully developed as a result. I have just withdrawn from life really.
My work has changed since Christmas. I'm working fewer hours with less stress, I've been to the GP and my health issues are now being addressed and, as a result, I feel more positive about life and I'm ready to make tentative steps into putting some of this right...
I reconnected with an old friend recently who I haven't seen in 25 years and it was lovely.
It's given me a bit of a boost and also made me see what I've missed out on by being so all consumed by work (I haven't really had much choice. As a single parent, the options for changing work work limited given it was a professional role i specifically trained for).
Due to this change, I've been wondering about trying to reconnect with a few women I've met over recent years, who I now only see because we have bumped into each other or have been to the same gigs/weddings rather than actively planning to do so. It's always nice and there are always tentative, "I've missed you, we should meet up properly" type exchanges but I get back to work and it's gone. We're very friendly but not friends because of this.
These are women whose company I enjoy and have fun with when I see them but haven't seen them often due to work.
I know that some of their lives also have become less frantic over recent years due to significant life changes and many have more time as a result.
So I was thinking of sending a message to a couple to briefly say there have been changes, I have more time and headspace and I would love to meet up if they'd like to.
I have significantly more time and mental capacity to be a friend and a good one now than I have for years and I'd really like to make some positive changes in my life to this effect.
I know (well, assume!) these women like me even if we haven't become good friends or friendships have drifted and would just like to give it a chance. I appreciate that they might not be interested or will have new/other demands on their lives.
I really just want to know how you'd feel if you received a message like this?
I think I'd feel pleased that they were in a better place and, if I genuinely liked them as a person, I'd meet up at least once just to see how it went.
I don't have many friends and I really think I need to do this.