Do You Want Friend Groups or Is That a Thing of The Past?

Song Of The Week

Get ready to shake your groove thing because this week’s tune is all about leaving your worries behind and letting loose. Hope Tala’s “Leave It on the Dancefloor” hits all the right notes, merging infectious beats with catchy lyrics that practically beg you to hit the dancefloor – preferably in your fanciest socks or glittery shoes.

From the first beat drop, you can feel the energy radiating from the speakers like a burst of confetti at a surprise party. Hope’s sultry vocals glide through the chorus like a sip of fizzy lemonade on a hot summer day—refreshing and invigorating! Each lyric resonates like a little reminder that life’s too short to sit on the sidelines. If you’re feeling stressed about deadlines or debating whether or not to text that crush, this song encourages you to go ahead and groove instead!

"Leave It on the Dancefloor" plays with the idea of escapism; it’s about shedding your burdens and making memories that stick like glitter in your hair. As the beat pulses, you can almost hear it urging you to dance like nobody’s watching, even if you’re just at home in your living room, pretending the vacuum cleaner is a dance partner.

So, whether you're prepping for a weekend out or just need a pick-me-up while tackling that mountain of laundry, "Leave It on the Dancefloor” is your go-to anthem for the week. And if you need a reminder? Just turn it up to eleven and dance like everyone is indeed watching—after all, what’s the point of a show if no one’s there to see it? Now, go on and leave it all on the dancefloor!

How I Met You Mother-Friend Edition

Can you believe that it is already Wednesday? Here we are, you and I, together on this fine spring Wednesday afternoon. So, let’s make the most of it! If you are new, it is absolutely lovely to have you and if you have been down this road before, it is also absolutely lovely to see you again. As part of my ongoing friendship series, I want to talk about another theme I see very often in the media: the friend group dilemma.

According to popular beliefs, five’s a crowd, four is a couple doubled, three’s an odd man out and two’s a perfect pair. While I’ve found some truth in this, my recent binge-watch of ‘How I Met Your Mother’ has shifted my perspective on the matter. But before we delve into that, we need to set aside thoughts about the ending, that debate is bigger than me. The decline of friendship groups is a serious issue, and it’s time to bring them back. However, doing so requires some dispelling of myths and requesting the City of Sacramento to add a bit of spice. 

Meet Me at Our Spot

It is a no secret that the preferred social group often consists of just two people, especially among women. We tend to stick in pairs for various reasons - more people mean more trouble planning or, more people mean less connection etc. But there’s more to it than that, namely two ideas. Many people, including myself, use excuses like ‘not wanting to leave the house’ which is often masked as underlying anxiety. Paired with the excuse, ‘there is nowhere to go’ often leads us to staying in our comfort zone.

Let’s tackle the second issue before diving into the first one. It is really apparent in cities like Sacramento that we lack one thing that could change us from the boring ole suburbs to bustling, flashing lights, all walks of life kind of city. And that my friend is… third places. If you haven’t heard of something called a third place before, think of spots you and your friends hangout at, a few examples are the bar like the one in HIMYM, or coffee shop like in Friends. These spots are the places you frequent that aren’t work or your home hence the name, third place. Life examples are churches or, the barber shop or, a nail salon. Where people gather for community and most of the time it is conveniently located, walkable and a fun, safe and welcoming environment.

Unfortunately, this is not the case anymore in 2024, nothing is walkable, and most people tend to be on social media rather than real life. I blame Covid for this but also the very capitalistic society we live in - and that is a debate for another day. Watching sitcoms like HIMYM is a reminder of what life was like when I was just a wee baby, the early 2000’s, and how they navigated life back then. It is very clear and apparent that we have stripped ourselves from being organic.

Finding a third place in Sacramento requires a 15-minute car drive away and drinking - which I don’t really enjoy. Ironically, Sacramento boats tons of coffee shops! Just don’t go between 12pm-4pm or 9am to 12 pm because it is a packed place where people go to study or to do some work. They are in no state to meet some friends as they are trying to get work done.

People in their 20’s need a place to gather casually. Almost like a Boys and Girls Club but cooler. We gotta brainstorm more on that… but you get the gist. A place where we just navigate to when we feel bored or want connection. I remember as a kid, I was forced to go to these places, I would go inside, check in, wait about ten minutes, and check out.  Looking back, I took them for granted, it was so easy to meet there and get free food just for us to leave and hang out at the park. Crazy to think about.

Lawyered Out

With that being said, the downside to having a third place is by actually going to them, meaning my laziness has got to go and also my falsehood of friendship groups. As someone who has dreamed of having their own show, I need people to actually be in it with me.

Sitcoms are my favorite genre of TV shows, they are wholesome, they do everyday activities while having some not-so-everyday things in the mix. They teach us humility, humor and most importantly, how to be a friend. How could you not love them?! HIMYM is one of those shows that truly highlight everything I just named. You, a viewer, are on this path with five people, who live in the middle of one of the biggest cities in the world, and just watch them navigate life. They come together every night to destress, go on crazy adventures, stick with each other through thick and thin. Again, how could you not love them?!

Yes, I can see how I am basing all my feelings and thoughts on a TV show.  And yes, they are scripted to act and say these things, it’s their literal job. But I like to believe it is possible. Who cares, if you lose your sanity, or your ego? Five is not a crowd!  That’s right, it just means there is more love, more fun, and more chaos in life. That is right folks, instead of looking for one best friend I am looking for four. I want four best friends in my lifetime, and I want to sit at a booth, maybe with some milkshakes, and just talk.

I just have to stop being lazy and put in some effort! I know everything in life that you want requires effort, e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g, no matter what. And there is nothing wrong in putting effort in friendships. It’s like then why can’t I do it? What is holding me back?

Trying is very underrated these days. And there is nothing wrong in putting effort in friendships. Life is a tough long road, as long as you have got a good suit on, the Canadian superstar Robin Sparkles playing in the background and Ted’s unbreakable belief then, you can do it. The idea of trying has become a lost art. And if you think I sound like Ted right now, I am pretty sure that was 90 percent of his monologue to win Robin. And it worked. So, in conclusion, just don’t be afraid to be seen trying, it isn’t lame to be seen. Get rid of that feeling. Because at the end of the day at least, you tried.

My Playbook

I think we understood the assignment for this week, we just need the song of the week to tie it all together. I chose a groovy one, a boogie-licious one, a real get-down-on-it song; Leave it on the Dancefloor by Hope Tala. She reminds us to just dance, forget everything else…” and just let the night take the pain away.” She sounds amazing and the beat is on point with what I love. If I were to host a party at Puzzles, this is the kind of music I would play to get boogie with. I am on the complete opposite side of the spectrum when it comes to parties now, where I just want to sing and feel the music. If that’s your vibe, hey, let’s plan a party! It will be next Wednesday, I’ll be here, you’ll be here, that sounds like a plan to me.

Enjoy This Journey With Me

° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 °

Enjoy This Journey With Me ° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 °

This isn’t the end—just a bookmark in the conversation. Stories don’t really close; they unfold, shift, and find new voices. If this one stirred something in you, let it breathe. Leave a thought, challenge an idea, or carry it forward in your own way. And if you ever feel like wandering through more unfinished thoughts, you know where to find me. Let’s keep the conversation alive. ~XOXO