This week's prompt is about the drastic social change that comes with success. I'm going to do my best to do justice to that topic.
The Inseperability Of Sucess & Social Change
Well, to be frank, success brings about drastic social changes. When somebody moves up in the world by gaining influence, power, popularity or wealth, the normal thing is that his social life changes. His circle of friends changes, not necessarily that he won't be associating with them again but it won't be as before. His friends becomes the rich and powerful, like himself. He no longer goes to the places he used to frequent.
Some people who achieve success take this to a whole new nasty level. They do this by completely cutting off from those who were their friends before they achieved success to the point of not even exchanging greetings with them, not picking their calls, etc. But that's not how it should be.
I believe that success creates social gaps between us and those who were our friends before we became successful. We wouldn't have the time to be associating freely with them as before. But that doesn't mean we should develop cold feet towards them. If we can't give them our time we should kindly tell them so and maybe schedule a meeting. Not by giving them silent treatments. You never know, that friend you neglect today because you tasted success can become far more successful tommorow and you'd need his help.
I am Not The Type
I'm yet to achieve success, at least on the level I'm dreaming of. But I don't think I'm the kind of person that would build a wall between me and friends when I climb the ladder of success. I would still call them, talk with them, attend social events with them, etc.
What Many People Fail To Realize
There's one angle to this situation people fail to see. If you deem it right that your friends aren't worthy to associate with you again because you're now successful, what prevents you from bringing them up to your level, by settling them financially, etc. But this rarely happens because people are just too selfish and greedy.
The Example Of The Childhood Friend Of My Friend's Father
One or my friend's father once told us of one of his teenage friends. His friend, Ikechukwu by name was his classmate and he was the one that helped him understand the difficult subjects he couldn't understand in class, especially mathematics. My friend's father said he did a lot of good things for his friend, Ikechukwu. When they became adults, Ikechukwu was able to achieve success, owned industries and a thriving business, and was a multimillionaire. But Ikechukwu created a gap between both of them, especially financially. Ikechukwu still greeted him whenever they met, but if he needed financial assistance that he himself couldn't handle and he went to Ike, Ike would refuse to help.
There was a time my friend's father's wife had a terrible road accident, Ikechukwu visited. He didn't stay long and he didn't even drop a dime for the people he came to see in the hospital, seeing the hefty hospital bills they had confronting them. You may say that Ikechukwu was under no obligation to assist his my friend's father in financial matters, but remember how my friend's father helped him both academically and financially in the past. I think one good turn deserves another.
Rumors were going around that Ike acquired his enormous wealth through ritual sacrifices. People could find no other reason to explain why a previously generous man suddenly became so close-fisted after he became wealthy. There was a story, a real life story, of a poor man in a church, who went to the priest to complain of his dire financial situations. The priest was touched and directed the poor man to one of the wealthy members of the church. When the man in need of assistance met the rich man, the man told him that his money was gotten through ritual sacrifices and even if he helped him, very soon all the money he gave him would vanish mysteriously. The priest was shocked beyond words when the man he'd sent for help went back to tell him this.
Pride Is Usually To Blame
Some people who create this Social gaps do so out of pride. It could someone who you helped financially in the past and when he acquires wealth, he will start behaving as it he hasn't ever met you, not to talk of him picking your calls.
Conclusion
I believe that while success creates social gaps it shouldn't severe the bond of friendship completely, because you never know if that you friend will achieve even more success than you and you'll need his aid in the future.
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Thanks for reading.