Affinity: A Natural Part of Who You Are

Affinity: a natural liking for or attraction to a person, thing, idea, etc.

Latin from affīnis "bordering (on), related by marriage, connected (with)" (from ad + fīnis "boundary, limit").

It’s interesting that affinity means a natural liking for and has its roots a “boundary or limit.”

Well, you and I obviously had to set some boundaries with affinity because we’ve got googobs of it. 

Yes, googobs is a word. 

It means a large or an infinite amount. 

And because you have an infinite amount of affinity you will naturally really like people and things.

But, what happens when you meet someone at a soccer game or a business luncheon and you’re chatting away and you find yourself having googobs of affinity for this person? 

Well, often this is where you get introduced to the ABP.

The Affinity Border Patrol. 

As in boundary or limit. 

And listen closely. 

You like this person you met because it’s a natural part of you. 

You do not have a sexual interest in them. 

Although the blue and red flashing lights atop the Border Patrol car might pull you over and see if you were having too many gobs. 

“Howdy Mam, I pulled you over because I my radar pinged when the affinity you expressed to that man back at the stop light might have exceeded the limit.”

You look up at Mr. ABP and your heart sinks. 

“Honest officer, he and I were just chatting about our kids soccer game.”

You feel your natural affinity being challenged for something that it’s not. 

“Okay, Mam. Just checking. Continue your affinity but just watch your speed. Good day”

You sit stunned looking out your front window. 

“My god…you whisper to yourself. “Whatever happened to just really liking someone?”

Well, the word affinity first appeared in the 14th Century with regard to marriage. 

You can like Betsy all you want but there is a limit. 

But see, your affinity is limitless.

It’s not like a shoe size or a Venti Cappuccino. 

However, when your affinity is questioned after awhile you notice you begin to keep your affinity in check. 

Safer that way, you know?

You stay within the affinity limit. 

But when you greet soccer man at your daughters game you feel this awkwardness. Your natural affinity is trapped in a world of suppressing your desire to give him a friendly hug or not. 

Borders & Boundaries:

See borders are made by beings. And for a good reason.

If the sun was an analogy for your affinity, it shines all the time. 

But if it’s too dang hot at the beach you can put up your umbrella to limit how much sunshine you get so you won’t get sunburned. 

We set boundaries for ethical and moral reasons, like respecting Betsy being married.

But if someone challenges your affinity when you haven’t crossed a border, well, you feel like someone’s intruded into your home when they walk in without knocking.

But I’m here to tell you: 

It’s completely okay to like someone googobs. 

I do. 

Even if it’s my local barista or I see a familiar garden frog jump up on my patio table and look at me like he’s about ready to ask me how my day is in frog speak. 

I have googobs of affinity for that frog. 

But don’t tell anyone. 

I might get pulled over for affinity speeding. 

If you have any areas of your personal life you want to improve, just click on the link below for a free phone consultation. There is no obligation to do anything else. There is no pitch. And there is nothing to buy. This is my way of letting the community know more about me and what I do. 

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