It's Really Easy to Lose Touch

It's really easy to lose touch with the past – recent or ancient.

I rode past the Angel of the North recently on a big bike ride and I realised it's been well over a decade since I was last up that way. Probably longer.

I used to drive past that site (long before the Angel was there) every couple of weeks as a kid – visiting my grandparents in Newcastle. Over the years, as I migrated south, and as my family sadly passed on, I just didn't have a lot to keep going back for anymore.

However, it doesn't need to be years for us to lose contact with our past. We get busy.

I left my last corporate job just over 11 months ago. Lots of "keep in touch", "let us know how you are doing", "can't wait to see how it pans out". But really, except for a couple of my team, who I had lots of time for anyway, silence.

It makes me sad. Connecting with people is my thing. I often say it's my 'superpower'. But you can't force it. I sent a few emails, dropped a few messages on LinkedIn, but never got a response.

Maybe when I left, there was a little collective sigh of relief. It could well be true. I wasn't in the best place, it hadn't been a good fit, and independent life was way overdue. Of course, people are busy, and I don't have so much 'main character energy' to think that they are all kicking themselves that they have not had time to reach out. And finally, maybe I just didn't connect there. Maybe that was my kryptonite role. It's probably a mix of all the above.

Whatever it is, I'm a little sad. There were some good people there, and it would be nice to say hi.

Maybe I am just in a reflective mood as I finish a year that has seen me re-connect with colleagues from across three decades of my career. I've loved getting back in touch with them, and I have had some amazing conversations.

LinkedIn is full of people espousing the power of networking. And it is important – especially if you are building something. But sometimes it's just nice to re-connect for the sake of it. It links you to the past – people and places that mean a lot. And that's okay. We're allowed to miss being part of something, even if we've moved on to something better.

What about you? Who have you lost touch with that you'd like to reconnect with?