If you want to connect deeply with others, it’s important to know: Relationships bring responsibilities. When you have a new friend, you have new responsibilities. When you get married, you have new responsibilities. When you have kids, you have new responsibilities. When you take on a job, you have new responsibilities. I’m telling you, the more love you have in your life, the less freedom you have. It’s like a formula. Freedom is the currency of love. The more love you have, the less freedom you have. And if you want to have a relationship or if you want to have good, deep friends, love is spelled T-I-M-E. It takes time. You can’t be friends with everybody. You can only be friends with some people. And if you want to have deep abiding relationships, you have to devote yourself to people, and you have to understand that there’s a responsibility. And the other person a responsibility to you too. It’s a give and take. That
responsibility, in a way, is a joy. In the end, as an old person, you’ll look back and recognize that that responsibility made you a better, deeper and more joyful person, and that’s a good thing. So as you grow deep with people, don’t resent the responsibility that comes with it. Because in the end, it’s a pure blessing!