Had lunch with a very dear friend over the weekend and during the course of the conversation I told her something, just in a matter of fact way, and afterwards I was struck with how true the statement was.

I was telling her how the more successful I’ve become, how certain friends and family members had basically dropped me.

It’s been difficult because I never planned to change.

Haven’t we all seen TV shows that demonstrate how fame and success can change a person, turn them obnoxious and snooty?

Well I vowed that wouldn’t happen to me, and as I’ve always mentioned on the blog, I’ve been really fortunate to be surrounded by down to earth family members who love me enough to tell me like it is, and prick my bloated swelled-up head if need be, to let the steam out!

Such modest success that I have had, hasn’t changed me, and yet I have felt a difference from both family members and friends and I told my friend that it’s become rather lonely, that it really is ‘lonely at the top’.

Not that I’m at the top yet, but I’m significantly more successful than some of the people I grew up around.

But why?

When I’ve been constantly reaching out and trying to maintain our relationships to the point where I felt like it was one-sided so I stopped.

It’s always been my policy that when people say negative things to me, the first thing I do is ask myself if what they said is true. So when a close family member started in on me, “Oh well, you’re a world famous author! And you travel all over the world! And …”

I couldn’t believe what he was saying. This is a very successful professional.

Oh well.

I guess you can’t have everything.

I could have given my writer friends the support they needed to be successful too. I even tried with one person in particular.

This person was absolutely fantastic at marketing, social media and ideas! It was her writing that wasn’t that good.

I urged her to develop her writing skills, and yeah, I probably didn’t handle the situation in the most diplomatic way, but my advice was good.

I always give good advice! Even to people I don’t like, but this was a person I did like–a lot! And so I gave her extra special good advice, work on your writing! But alas.

And consequently she dumped me as a friend. It still stings.

But it was nice to get together with this dear old friend.

And I plan to keep it that way.

She said that as she’s aged she thinks it’s important to keep in touch with friends and I couldn’t agree more.

We’ve planned to meet again in about six months.

You’d be surprised!

Six months comes faster than you’d think!