Today was interesting. For the first time throughout this project I met someone who wasn't as excited about becoming my friend as I was his.
Though Greg wasn't outright rude about it. He was honest - and really had me thinking more about this project and what it means to be a friend.
I went into Angus where my sole intention was to meet my Friend of the Day. In fact, I planned on sitting at the bar, chatting with the bartender, and leaving having met my new friend. That's essentially what I did, but Greg the bartender wasn't so keen on using the word "friend" as quickly as I had hoped.
Just because you meet someone new doesn't make them a friend. Friendship is something that grows over time and I know firsthand as I have some really wonderful friends in my life. So why do I need 365 more? -- well, that's a good question. But it's not about that. It's not only about having friends. It's about being open and trusting of another human and sharing yourself and hoping that you get the same in return. It's a mutual challenge about trust and respect. Just as difficult on both ends.
In the end, I do hope to have 365 new friends. Already I have connected one of them to my sister who lives in Chicago because they both live there and I think they'd really get along, I've gone back to see another one of them at his place of work, and I have every intention of doing my best to stay connected to those who are not already directly linked to my life in some way. It's only been 25 days, but already I have met some inspiring people and everyone has a special place in my heart for being a part of this project.
That being said, after hanging out at the bar longer than anticipated, chatting with Greg and discovering shared interests, he said that he'd be happy to be my friend of the day.
Greg is a bartender at Angus who came to New York 15 years ago to pursue his passion for painting. I was so glad to hear that he only had to work a couple days a week and could spend the rest of the time working on his art. Greg was generous enough to share his art with me and it can be viewed at his website: www.gregorycoutinho.com
Thanks you for challenging me, Greg. Friends do that to each other. I'll stop by and visit you at Angus and maybe if I get there by the end of your shift we can each grab a drink and toast to your latest commission being completed - get to it! I know you want to be done by the end of February.
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