the value of friendship
I am one lucky person. I can honestly say that I have at least six wonderful women who are my “best friends.” These women have been with me for the majority of my life and have accompanied me on a most memorable journey through marriages, careers and self-discovery. They have helped me to value friendship in a truly meaningful way..
Five of these incredible women (along with their spouses/partners) helped me celebrate my birthday this weekend. The sixth lives in Vancouver and will be here this summer to catch up on the celebrations. But she was present by phone and that was almost as good as having her among us.
My friends Mary & Roy at the BYSY book launch at McNally Robinson.
It really made me step back and take stock of my life when my dear friend, Mary, made a toast commemorating the 40 years + that we have been friends. How cool is that? To still be close to someone you’ve known since you were a mere tween is amazing — and precious. I have known the other wonderful ladies nearly as long. They have helped weave the fibre of who I am. And I thank them for that.
They hold me accountable for the decisions I make. They support me when I fall and salute me when I triumph.
value friendship
I hope you are fortunate enough to have this quality of friendship in your life and that you have learned to value friendship..
Not that I don’t value the more recent friendships I have made. They, too, are precious. And I cherish each one of them, for as we get older, the friendships we make match us with kindred spirits. Individuals who share our current interests, passions and goals. These are often the individuals who help us achieve the most significant milestones in our lives as they help us aspire to greatness, to grow intellectually and to evolve spiritually.
So I also thank each of you who is a newer friend to me. You have helped me grow, blossom and bloom to the best of my ability (how can you tell I’ve been gardening all day?)
I’ll try and find something more intellectually satisfying for you in a few days. The post on the Magnificent Mind seems to have hit a chord with you and drawn a lot of comments from readers. Let’s keep the dialogue going.
Your heartfelt reflection on the enduring friendships in your life is touching. True friends, whether longtime companions or recent connections, enrich our journey and help us evolve. Your gratitude for these bonds is truly heartwarming.
Ah, Doreen – kindred spirits! I’m always musing on my good fortune at having so many dear friends from various parts of my life. I see my own personal friendship diagram as something like the Olympic rings – various circles that intersect in various places. I sometimes have to stop and think that Friend A doesn’t actually know Friend M, because I know both of them and they have a lot in common (besides knowing me).
I get especially contemplative about friendship at this time of year, as I get ready to go to the PWAC AGM (this year in Toronto). I go every single year, and the highlight for me is reconnecting with the wonderful people, mostly women, who share this crazy profession with me. I owe PWAC a huge debt of gratitude for introducing me to delightful people who I know will be my friends for life.
As Virginia says, diversity of friendships is a further asset. A number of my friends, starting with you, dear Doreen, will be reading this. Thank you all for… just being you.
Happy Birthday, Doreen (from a recent friend) and thanks for the post. It’s all true.
What I like about friendships is the diversity. I have friends who talk non-stop and others who are reserved, some who challenge me intellectually and others that make me laugh until I cry, old friends that I see only once or twice a year but that are instantly familiar and new friends I love to spend time with but can be more work because I don’t know their backgrounds and values. I have one friend whom I only see when things get rough (a “bad weather” friend you might call her) and another in the neighbourhood I can call on spontaneously for a walk whenever I get sick of my screen.
But how do you define a friend? I would argue that Susie’s 500 Facebook friends are not really friends. To me, a friend is someone who makes you laugh, who challenges your assumptions, and is there for you when you’re blue or struggling with a dilemma. The rest are just acquaintances. Anyone else?
Thanks a lot, Bonnie. That was exactly the chord I was trying to hit!
I’ve also got a very positive comment from Christine that I’m posting here (wither her permission) as she seems to be unable to post on the blog.
Christine writes:
Hi Doreen:
I’ve tried, unsuccessfully, to post a comment on your blog. I particularly
loved the latest post on friendship.
On the weekend, my husband and I met up with a couple with whom we’ve been friends since 1971. They live in SW Ontario, and we live in the SE, so we don’t get together very often. But when we do, the years
just melt away.
It’s wonderful to have these treasured long-time friends, and it is equally great to have newer friends. Each adds a dimension that the other can’t.
It is especially true what you said about our women friends, and what
treasures they are. I loved what you said about those friends helping to weave the fabric of who you’ve become.
A woman with whom I’ve only been friends for a little more than 3 years
has become a really close friend, which surprises both of us given that she is young enough to be my daughter–there is a 24 year age gap! Yet, that does not seem to matter. She recently moved to Halifax, but we still keep in pretty close touch.
I have a desk calendar from my “young” friend. It’s all about friendship.
Today’s message:
“Friendship…is a Union of Spirits, a Marriage of Hearts, and the Bond
thereto Virtue.”
–William Penn
If you want to post any of this on your blog, go ahead. I just wanted you to know that your writing touches me, and I treasure your friendship.
True friends are rare and amazing find that are meant to be treasured! This was a heartwarming post. Even though our intellect does crave satisfaction our hearts and souls also need the occasional reminder of the value of true friendship and the rewards it can bring. Thanks for providing the soul satisfaction component.