I just returned from a college reunion. I had many incredibly warm and personal conversations with fellow alumni. Almost all the people I enjoyed talking to were ones whom I knew barely or not at all when we were students. Many I was meeting for the first time.

Yet, it was remarkable how close we felt to each other over the course of a few days.  How could this be? All we had in common was a college experience decades ago?

The answer lies in the momentum of the relationships. Though we had little personal engagement with one another, we shared a common path for many years as graduates of the same institution who went through the growing up experience of college together.  What connection we had–loose as it was–had been going on for so many years. All it took was the opening of being at a reunion together for the feeling to be strong.

Most personal relationships become strong because we make a personal emotional commitment to them. Relationships with high momentum, even without that personal commitment, can feel strong and meaningful in a different kind of way. I plan to stay in touch with some of the classmates I met this week and build even better, richer friendships.