Lifestyle

How to Identify the Top 25 People In Your Immediate Circle and Why This Matters

Published

3 years ago

February 15, 2023

In the digital age, making friends is easier than it has ever been with social media allowing for instant and ongoing connections with a virtually limitless number of people. On Facebook alone, today’s average user has more than 300 friends.

As with most things, however, quantity does not necessarily translate to quality.

“How many friends should you have?” asks Mark Lacek, author of the book “So, Who’s In Your Circle?” and creator of the My-Circle app. “It is something you need to consider if you want to build bonds with your friends that are stronger than ever and walk through this crazy and exciting life together. The digital age calls us to be a mile wide and an inch deep when it comes to friendships. But focus matters.”

Mark’s philosophy regarding friendship is that loyal friends are the only kinds of friends you want in your life. He also knows that having and enjoying loyal friendships takes some work. His book provides a roadmap for whittling down the ever-growing “friends list” we have built on social media to create a more manageable and satisfying personal social network.

“My goal in authoring my book is to help people intentionally, efficiently, and effectively determine how many of their friends can reasonably fit into their lives,” Mark says. “Our lives are so busy that it is a challenge to make time for friendships. We need a strategy for optimizing our time with friends and building deeper relationships with the ones who matter most.”

Optimizing your circle of friends

When it comes to friendships, many people have an inner circle. These are your “besties.” They are typically the two to five people who you cannot imagine doing life without.

Your inner circle is important, but it should not represent the totality of your friendships. Right outside of that inner circle should be a group of great friends who have won your trust, loyalty, and respect. Mark calls these people “My 25” and recommends an intentional approach to identifying who they are.

“If you are blessed with a broad array of friends, you know that they are true gold in life,” Mark says. “But we are not good at, nor have we typically given much thought to, organizing our friends. What can we do that will allow us to optimize our friendships over the course of our lives?”

Mark offers the following steps in his book for identifying those who would rank as our top 25 friends:

For those who work outside the home, begin by thinking about relationships with those whom you see most often. Close friends often are found in this group. However, spending a lot of time with someone does not automatically make them a close friend. You might log a lot of hours with a coworker during the day but never connect with that person outside of work. Those types of relationships probably would not qualify as one of your top 25 friendships.
Think of the friends you turn to when you have a problem and need help or advice. These are probably the people that you feel you can count on. You trust what they have to say and you respect them.
Think of the people who feel close to you even though they are far away geographically. If you have maintained a friendship with someone who lives several states away, that is a good indicator that they are a close friend.
Look at the lists of calls and texts on your phone or direct messages in your social media accounts. They provide a great gauge of the people who matter in our lives. That is not to say that your closest friends are those with whom you communicate most often; however, if you rarely place a call or send a text to someone, they probably will not rank among your top 25 friends.

Being intentional about friendships

The digital age has made it easier to have an abundance of friends, though it still hasn’t helped when it comes to authenticity in relationships. To find true happiness in our friendships, it is critical that we identify who our true friends are and focus our time and energy on them.

“There are so many studies that prove the value of having friends,” says Mark. “It isn’t only that they’re good for your health, which they are, and enrich your life, which they do, but also that they help you to become your best self and the person you were meant to be.”

Lifestyle

How Magic Moment Resort Became the Pioneer of a New Era: The First-Ever Dazzler Select by Wyndham

Published

1 week ago

November 25, 2025

Michelle Langton

In Central Florida’s packed landscape of family hotels and theme park lodgings, a unique kind of property has emerged. Magic Moment Resort & Kids Club in Orlando is earning attention from traveling families for a simple reason. It delivers joy, warmth, and convenience at a smart value that keeps Disney dreams accessible rather than overwhelming.

By joining Wyndham, Magic Moment Resort unlocks the strength of a global powerhouse, gaining worldwide visibility, advanced technology, and access to Wyndham Rewards, the largest hotel loyalty program on the planet. This strategic move expands its reach, builds guest trust, and amplifies its impact, all while preserving the unique identity that sets it apart.

Just a short drive from the gates of Walt Disney World, the resort sits along the palm-framed stretch of West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway. The location has long been known for its tourism bustle, yet Magic Moment has carved out a softer identity. It feels playful and colorful, but also intentional. It is designed by a family for other families, and that perspective shapes every experience on the property.

A Philosophy Rooted in Family Connection

Magic Moment Resort was built with a belief often forgotten in today’s tourism industry. Family vacations should feel uplifting instead of stressful, and affordability should not come at the expense of comfort or creativity.

Check-in feels more personal than transactional. Parents arrive with strollers, snacks, and tired children. The staff seems to understand this rhythm instinctively. The energy is warm, the pace is easy, and the tone is set long before anyone even enters the room.

Unlike competing hotels that charge a steep premium for proximity to the parks, Magic Moment focuses on smart value without compromise. Its pricing strategy is refreshingly straightforward. Families can stay five minutes from Disney without draining their travel budgets. For many guests, that difference helps shift resources from hotel costs to experiences. It means more character breakfasts, more souvenirs, and more freedom to enjoy the parks without financial tension following every decision.

Spaces Designed for Children and Considerate of Parents

Magic Moment is filled with color, but nothing feels overstimulating. Instead, the resort offers a sense of wonder scaled to a child’s imagination.

The themed family rooms are a highlight. Children step into rooms that feel lighthearted and whimsical, yet parents appreciate that they are also functional and comfortable. It is the atmosphere of a themed suite without the theme park price.

Its Kids Club and Teens Club reflect that same thoughtful balance. These spaces invite exploration and creativity for children and provide a nurturing level of supervision. Parents can enjoy an hour by the heated pool, relax in a shaded cabana, or simply take a quiet moment while knowing their children are safe and engaged.

The resort’s grounds encourage slow mornings and gentle afternoons.There’s a 30,000 sqf outdoor playground as well as peaceful corners for parents. Importantly, families are not asked to pay additional fees to enjoy them. Magic Moment’s amenities feel generous rather than transactional.

Unforgettable Days at the Parks

For families navigating a Disney vacation, convenience is often the true luxury. Magic Moment delivers this with a complimentary delicious hot breakfast that encourages everyone to sit and enjoy the start of the day rather than rush through it.

Transportation to the parks is included, which removes one of the most common stress points for visiting families. There is no parking lot maze and no long lines at the toll booths. Guests simply board the shuttle and begin their day with ease.

When the sun sets and everyone returns from a day of rides and parades, the resort becomes a place to unwind. Children head straight for the pool. Parents sip Starbucks coffee. The atmosphere is relaxed and bright, and the resort feels like an extension of the Disney experience rather than a pause from it.

A Value That Resonates with Families

What truly elevates Magic Moment is the balance it achieves between smart value and experience. The resort has cultivated a loyal following because guests feel they receive more than they pay for. More thoughtful design. More space for connection. More comfort without excess.

Affordability here does not signal minimalism. Instead, it allows families to breathe. It creates space for shared moments that are often overlooked in the rush of theme-park vacations. Children play freely. Parents unwind without guilt. Families spend more time together and less time navigating logistics.

A Resort Built with Heart

Magic Moment Resort & Kids Club stands out in a region overflowing with hospitality options. Its charm is not rooted in extravagance. It is grounded in sincerity. It reflects the belief that family travel should feel joyful, accessible, and full of color.

For families planning a Disney visit, it represents more than a place to sleep. It is a retreat where memories can form in the quiet moments as much as in the thrilling ones.

At Magic Moment, the greatest luxury is not an amenity. It is the feeling of being exactly where you are meant to be, together.