Friends in my pocket

A long time ago I encountered this idea, that when we have something hard to face and feel isolated, we can remember that actually we have our friends right there in our pocket cheering us on – we are not alone. This was before the time of common mobile phone ownership, and I realise now the concept is even more relevant. The other week a friend had a scary meeting and I reminded him he had friends in his pocket. I even texted him during the meeting so it was literally true – fortunately he’d put his phone on silent.

For all my technological incompetence, I do love the way it can bring us closer and instantly. I go off to all kinds of fun and not so fun things, and I don’t do them on my own. I love that if necessary, my children could call on me in a moment. I love that friends can update me. Of course I can then get pulled – I always like my attention to be with whoever I’m with. So when I’m with a new mum, my focus is on her and I don’t check out that beep until I’m out of her home. And it is of course not good to be over reliant on something so that I would be bereft if the phone was left behind…

Today is going to be a longer than usual work day, and I’m looking forwards to singing later, but meanwhile, I know that wherever I go, I have my friends in my pocket, as they do me. Even where there is no signal J