Friends, Friendship, Friends Forever

A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.

~ William Shakespeare

 

I just came back from meeting one of my besties for lunch (Hi Andi!). My friend is fun and witty and loves doing things with her family and friends. I had a great time.

Last week I went shopping and stayed overnight with four of my besties from my old neighborhood. We hadn’t seen each other since the memorial, and we shopped and laughed and and talked till 1:30 am. We all had a great time.

A month or two ago we met our two besties half way between Tennessee and Wisconsin and toured Indiana’s covered barns. We ate and laughed and drove around and camped and had a great time.

Two months ago we went over to our besties house and had dinner. We talked about kids and upcoming craft fairs and had a great time.

Whenever I go to my kid’s house, no matter what kind of day we’ve all had, we always manage to talk and laugh and gossip and have a great time. (Hi Sarah!) Bring in her parents and every day is a party — even when we all are dog tired and can’t move off the sofa.

You may say I’m lucky.

You may think I have the gift of friendship or the gift of gab — or both.

But friendships come easy, right?

The minute you hang with someone you can tell if they’re going to be lifelong pals and confidants or if they’ll just do for the evening. That’s the easy part.

Real friendship takes work.

It takes calling them, even if you’re the last one to make contact. It takes driving longer than you want to drive just to meet for dinner or shopping. It means giving up something you want to do to do something your friend wants to do.

It means asking — and taking — help, even if you don’t think you need it.

You can have one best friend or a dozen. Your bestie can be a male, female, or gender neutral. They can be your classmate, your neighbor, or your mother-in-law.

Friendship has no boundaries, no parameters. It just is. 150% of you. All the time. No matter what.

Sometimes friendships get tested. Distance, morals, misunderstandings. Things said and misunderstood. Things misspoken yet heard correctly.  Friendship can be roasted, toasted, and tested.

Some make it through fire and ice.

Others break apart and drift away.

But we all can have friends. We all need friends.

True friends love you just the way you are — with all your quirks, with all your weaknesses, with all your dreams.  Friends are there to pick up the pieces and glue you back together.

And, if you are a true and honest friend, you will glue them back together too.

Give your friend a call this evening. Drop them a text. Even if it’s been a year. A month. Yesterday. Give Give and Give some more. Don’t ask for anything back — just enjoy the giving part. That’s who you are. 

If your gift of love is used and abused, that’s not your problem. It’s theirs. Tenfold.  You were always true to yourself. So move on. 

One never said friendship was perfect. But one thing I do know —

Make sure you are your own best friend first.