Splitting poles

Yesterday after work (and a very unnecessarily blower conversation with the DOB chick I talked about yesterday) my coworker and I discussed what friendship really means. As we were walking and talking, everytime we came up to a pole or a tree she would walk around the opposite side of me. Eventually I asked her about it and she said she always does that. I questioned the whole bad luck thing, chalked it up as some silly superstition and kept it moving but for some reason my overanalytical mind would not let it go.

I thought about all the times people had broken their necks to be on the same side of the pole as me (clearly I'm speaking figuratively). They would try in their best powers to be on my side when I would make it clear that I never have and never will be about sides. I'm about fairness and respect. I'm not perfect but I try my best to see where someone else is coming from in hopes that they'll do the same for me. We don't have to think or act the same just as long as we have a mutual desire to understand one another and our respective viewpoints.

So thinking back on our conversation I couldn't help but think that maybe the act of splitting poles isn't such a bad thing. To me it's symbolic of two individuals walking together in any situation -- whether it be a friendship, relationship or even with a family member -- and at some point differing in views. What sets the situation apart is whether you come to a mutual agreement in the middle (the pole) and meet on the other side or choose to go your own way.