The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, not the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship . - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Recently my kid came running to me with a question " Mommy how do you make friends?'' And that got me thinking. This question took me back to my school and college days. How did I end up with so many wonderful friends?
I am blessed to have amazing friends by me in every walk of life. We as kids make friends easily during school days. We meet new people in college and dorms and build friendships. Work, marriage and parenthood take us into another phase of life. Along the way we meet new friends, some stay and some we lose along the way .
Forming meaningful relationships does get harder as we grow older. But my take is to channel your inner child. I like to meet new people, enjoy the experiences but I have learnt to choose wisely. Not all that glitters is gold. Friends are definitely important. But the quality of friendship is what matters. There are people who just tag along because it is beneficial for them. But true friends hang on no matter what. They support you through thick and thin. Just like food, clothing and shelter I say friendship is a basic necessity in my life .
I read somewhere that friendships start to dwindle by mid 20s. However I am very lucky to still have my school and college friends in my life. A handful of them are literally a phone call away even though they are thousand miles away and literally across continents .
We all have busy lives currently. My friends help me beat that stress. Friends are vital to my well being, especially to keep the sanity at times . At the end of a chaotic day all that is needed is unwinding . For me that connection with a friend who will put a smile on your face and sustain you to get through the rest of it is a blessing indeed. In my experience strong friendships boost survival.
To me my true friends are those who care genuinely about each other . You understand each other deep down and know each other to the core. No amount of distance, time or lack of words will change these strong bonds. No amount of success or failures will weaken these bonds. When life sends such friends your way , cherish them always.
I treasure all the memories from my school and college days. My true friends have seen me through some tough times, picked me up when I was weak and supported me when I needed it the most. They taught me things not just about life but about myself too. The pep talks and "therapy " as I refer to is what fuels me to keep going . I am eternally grateful for such genuine people in my life whom I proudly call my best friends.
