'The glue' that keeps us together

IT MAY be time to say "thank you” to the social directors who help make this world a happy place.

The social directors, or "glue” people of this world, help friends stick together. Picture: shironosov

IT MAY be time to say "thank you” to the social directors who help make this world a happy place.

I'm talking about those friends who we may not see very often, but keep an eye on us, say a little prayer for us and ensure we stay in their thoughts.

I'm lucky to know several of these people who I call "the glue”. None of them know each other but they're "the glue” in my life because they keep me connected to the world outside "me”. They help keep my social circles revolving, however slowly.

It's no trouble for them to organise the movie nights, the occasional coffee before work, the annual charity luncheon at their home, the footy club reunions, the monthly catch-up sessions in the guise of investment club meetings, the neighbourhood Christmas sausage sizzle in the park. If they didn't, it's possible no one else would.

In recent weeks, I've caught up with dozens of people I often think about but rarely see in the flesh. Life gets in the way for all of us but "the glue” people of this world can always be counted on to rally the troops for a get-together and give us that much-needed pick-me-up.

A friend I've known for 40 years received a cancer diagnosis recently. Within days, "the glue” people had brought together old mates from near and far for a Saturday session at his local pub before he was due to start chemotherapy.

Another saw former Daily gal pals - some who hadn't seen each other for years - get together for dinner and a few laughs on a "school night” to talk family, romance novels, retirement and travel.

When you're young, you're surrounded by friends daily.

You never imagine that your social group will ever shrink to just a handful of good mates you see every now and then.

Now, with so much of our human contact being the virtual kind over social media, we need to let the "glue” people in our lives know they're appreciated.

Originally published as 'The glue' that keeps us together