Every now and then I like to take time to reflect on life, the good and the bad, and try to see if I can identify areas to improve. This is part of my process of self improvement (and remember, kids, self improvement is like security – it’s a process, not a destination). I identify the areas where I could improve, then work to improve them. It has worked out fairly well for me overall.
Every once in a while I will, in the course of this reflection, come to certain conclusions, having realized something about myself or noticed a pattern develop that I think should change. For instance – I have found myself eating unhealthy lunches and meals far too frequently, and have decided to change that by bringing my lunch more frequently. Small solutions that are easy to manage have proven to be very effective.
Today while reflecting I had another conclusion: I don’t spend enough time with my technology oriented friends. That is to say, I’m not hanging with other geeks often enough. My best friend at one time in his life was a Computer Science major, but he was never really into computers that much (certainly not to the same degree I am). Most of my other close friends also are not really into computers that much – they use them, and game on them, but they’re not excited about things like mobile home directories, paperless houses, smart homes, etc – they just don’t get excited about the same things I do.
When I do get a chance to hang out with my technology oriented friends – like my friend Jason – I find myself honestly excited because it’s a like-minded person who enjoys technology just as much as I do. It’s someone I can talk tech and computers with and a.) probably learn something new and b.) not have his eyes glaze over.
Don’t get me wrong here – I like my current friends, quite a bit. The problem is that, with a few notable exceptions, the conversations are just not intellectually stimulating. I very rarely find myself getting excited about something when hanging out with them. That, I’ve determined, is the problem. I do enjoy hanging out with them – I think they’re funny and fun, and they’re definitely close friends – but I find myself needing MORE.
There are a few ways I can rectify this, none of them overly problematic. I can seek to foster and build additional friendships with other tech geeks – something I’d like to do anyways because I would like a larger circle of friends. I can also join some tech organizations and participate regularly (something like IndySec – a informal meeting of security professionals in the Indianapolis area). These are not mutually exclusive, either, as joining technology organizations could very well lead to making more friends who are technology oriented.
I still care about all of my non-techie friends out there, and wouldn’t dream of abandoning those friendships – I think it’s time, however, to branch out and forge new friendships that can help stimulate my creativity and foster that excitement for technology that I find myself missing lately.
