Who are you loyal to?

As I sit in the airport and people-watch, I reflect on the topic of loyalty. When I checked my bags, I was asked to sign up for the airline’s loyalty program. Would I like to collect frequent flyer miles?

Would I like to upgrade to priority boarding status, to gold-executive first class? Almost every brand has a loyalty card or points system — hoping to build life-long client advocates. We also build loyalty to people in our lives for a variety of reasons.

Loyalty is defined as a strong feeling of support, allegiance, devotion, or faithfulness to a duty, cause or obligation.

So how do we decide to be loyal to something or someone?

It begins with a gradual exploration of how well a person or product or workplace or political party or spiritual teaching, etc. aligns with our personal philosophy.

Do we believe in it?

Do we trust?

Does it show up consistently to support us? Okay, maybe I can get behind it…

We then have multiple interactions that either build loyalty or take it away. Bit by bit, we grow closer, more invested, more likely to give, to buy, to spend time, to recommend, to love. Or negative experiences may cause us to reconsider, or drift away or even close the door forever.

Either way, loyalty is on my mind.

The reason for my whirlwind trip is to visit multiple family members.

Ah, family. An eclectic mix of close blood relatives, distant relations or even no relation at all, you know: honorary family.

My ‘family’ is amazing.

Writing this post over a week, I interacted with ten different people in my tribe. Some quite familiar, others I don’t know very well after years spent apart. Doesn’t matter, each of them has my back and I have theirs. Right now, or whenever.

Why the loyalty?

Each is a person I have come to love, appreciate, respect and accept for exactly who they are. The feeling is reciprocal. We’ve shared great times, embarrassing moments, painful choices. Yet, we are still in this together. We met over lunch: a motley crew from several states, various bloodlines, multiple generations, different persuasions. Shared laughter, curiosity, compassion, love.

As I looked around the table I realized how incredible it is to have each one in my life.

For a short time, we walk this parallel journey, making whatever small impact we can for each other.

Loyalty points: priceless.

Infinitely more valuable than what brand of phone I’m typing this blog on, or airline miles or what logo is on my sneakers.

How do I define loyalty? I see you and you see me. We continue to choose to be here, together.