Like-minded

"Hang around with like-minded successful people and you will become one". This quote was given by a gym trainer on the news. The statement is not only true for people that go to the gym, but in many aspects of life. If you are on a team or in a group, collectively you are only as strong as the weakest person. Being a successful person requires a lot of work and dedication. Some of the most successful people make it their responsibility to help others to become as successful as they can be. 

Have you ever met someone, and you feel like you have always known them? The conversation just flows, and you feel energized just talking to them. Even though you have just met, it is astounding how many things you have in common with this person. In other words, they are like-minded, they are talking your language, and you feel like you could finish each other's sentences.   

I am passionate about alternative medicine, and when I get with a like-minded person, I love the conversation that results. I do recognize who to talk to, and who not to talk to about my passions, I read the room. I realize this is my passion, not everyone else's. 

I believe at some point in our lives, we have all been "stuck". It is not a place we want to be. I found some quotes that I thought explained it further. How powerful one little line can be to describe our lives.        

"If you choose to never change anything, you will never change"

"If you wait for others to make your life, you will be waiting a long time"

"Keep doing the same thing and you will get the same result"

We were all saddened when Matthew Perry died at the age of 54 of a ketamine overdose.  Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic used for induction and maintenance of anesthesia. Since 2006, ketamine has been used for the treatment of depression and pain management, when other medications aren't successful. According to the autopsy report, the amount of ketamine in Matthew's body exceeded the dose given at his last appointment. 

Matthew was very open regarding his struggle with addiction and sobriety. I want to include his words about addiction. He said, "raise your hand to the right people and you will get help". He also said, "don't be alone with it". Recovery programs such as AA or NA are provided by like-people. Matthew was a like person and had at one point made his home into a recovery center for addicts. He was described as passionate about helping others. 

Like-minded people are often the result of a lived experience. Jordin Tootoo said that the people in his community looked up to him as a lived experience. He was a legend in his hometown of Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. I believe everyone can think of someone in their life that has helped them because of their lived experience. Like-minded people talk about their life and what they did to overcome adversities. They don't offer solutions for problems; they help you find your own solutions. Like-minded and lived experience people are what I describe as someone who can help you on a healing path by making you feel that you aren't alone. Like Matthew said, never feel alone, there is someone out there that will help you.  

It seems to be difficult to reach out to others. There are a variety of reasons, the biggest is our own state of mind when we need help. It seems easier to talk ourselves out of reaching out than to make it happen. We go through the excuses, such as, they are busy, who can help me and a variety of other reasons that pop into our heads. Reaching out is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of strength. 

There are times when we all know that someone needs us, and we need to take the first step and reach out to them. For our own reasons, we are often reluctant to do so. Reaching out to someone that you think you could help may be the best thing you can ever do for that person. Everybody needs someone to help them from time to time, be that somebody. There is not a better feeling than "being needed".