“I have enough friends” vs “I need to expand my circle”?

Doodled characters over dried coffee spills via #coffeewithjaimee

After two decades of traveling for work and pleasure, I am more and more becoming a homebody. Being home (and loving being at home) has me thinking about the contrast of perspective between “I have enough friends” and “I should expand my circle.” (I’ll save the contrast of ‘staying home’ vs ‘getting out more’ for another day.)

I have enough friends.

I like my friends. The ones that are still around have been here a while.

My friends give me a sense of emotional security and comfort during difficult times. They are super good at offering empathy, advice, and encouragement, which helps to ease stress and feelings of isolation.

My friends keep my self-esteem and overall well-being intact because they know who I am and still like me. I’m challenged by people I know and trust. It’s safe here.

But is it too safe? Am I still growing? Am I growing as fast as I could be?

I should expand my circle.

Whether it’s a friendly smile from a passerby or something as simple as a coffee doodle, these small moments of connection can profoundly impact our lives. These connections remind me that the world is full of people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. And when I open myself up to meeting…