I just recently heard of the “Average of Five” rule which theorizes we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. After I learned of this concept, I purposely didn’t read the for and against arguments, as I wanted to think about it without influence. I, of course, know who my five people are and they are all different in personality amongst themselves and opposites in many ways from me. Because we are so close I know their skeletons and where they are hidden. My bones are right their too in many cases. We all have our flaws. But they are all kind, honest, compassionate, fun, loyal and generous people and if I can share these traits, how lucky am I? Of course they are all much more than just those few characteristics and I would gladly rub up against them in hopes of receiving their wonderful qualities. And I do. Sometimes in public.
Since I haven’t researched this idea, I don’t know if this has come up, but I propose that my own self be one of the five. I spend the most time with me and I’d like to think that what I put out into the world comes back to me, not in a karmic kind of way, but in the way that I strive to be better, to do better, to learn. This blog, for instance, is an extension of me and what I share here causes me to think and hopefully improve myself and grow. So, yes, I have a big impact on me. But I wouldn’t want to lose the opportunity to have five others instead of four in this premise. I need all the help I can get and these five people definitely have an effect on me.
I hope that you, too, surround yourself with people who inspire you to be not only your best, but their best too. Keep your friends close, your enemies closer, and your five the closest. And let the law of averages do the rest.
