Not every day is about huge success stories and following rainbows to discover a great treasure awaiting you at the end. There are many days which are just average and some that feel so dark that you might never survive to see another sunrise. But surprisingly, it is what happens on those really dark days that tells you a lot about yourself and the people that you choose to have around you.
It’s easy to be a friend on the perfect sunny days. Having fun and enjoying time together on the weekend or even on a vacation is simple. But being a friend on a dark day is a lot more complicated and even difficult on some occasions. The people who choose to share your dark days and will voluntarily be there to help you get through the most difficult times in your life are the true friends that you will always be able to count on. These people are rare in this life and should be treasured for all that they do to enrich your life.
And on the other side of the equation, are you the person who will be there for a friend in need, even when you yourself are having a bad day? Are you willing to put your own problems or issues on hold if a friend really needs you? And are you willing to walk into another person’s darkness and expend your emotional and physical energy to light your friend’s path back to hope and recovery? If so, you are that rare true friend who is a treasure and a life saver. And you could well be the reason that your friends have not only survived difficult times but managed to learn from them and then thrive.
True friends are rare and to have one or two is truly a gift to be thankful for each and every day. And being a true friend to another person is a gift that you give from your heart that is far more valuable than any item that you could ever give. So one the good days, be sure to be thankful for the good friends. And on the bad days, remember to be even more thankful for true friends. And always try to be that friend who will make a difference for a friend in need. Your kindness and example could be all that the person needs to inspire him or her to return the favor to someone else who needs a true friend.
While I have an essay on what it means to be a true friend in process, my reflections on friendship will definitely be enhanced and depend by this post from you today, Kathy! My mother always told me to be my own best friend, and while I believe that to be essential for one’s lasting happiness, that no one else can “make” you happy as it’s essentially in “inside”job, having a friend who truly cares, who respects you, listens to you without preaching or trying to change you, can be transformative. Andy and I just watched Mr. Rogers’ Won’t You Be My Neighbor documentary several days ago and I find myself reflecting on the messages from that as I now go about my days. This post from your enriches my reflections even more, so thank you, dear friend I’ve never met face to face, but feel such a strong connection with nonetheless.
Pam- There are many ways that the digital world touches our lives each day. And many of the “old timers” such as myself feel that not all of this “progress’ is good. Sadly, people will hide behind a keyboard and type words that they would never dream of uttering aloud. Threats and bullying seem to abound in our new society. But in defense of the electronic age, I have proof that it can be a tool, which when used carefully, produces great good. If not for the Internet and a form of social media, I never would have discovered you, one of my dearest friends ever! And as you said, we have never met face to face, but you have touched my heart and soul from a distance of some 2000 miles. Your friendship is far deeper and more meaningful than what I share with people whom I see on a regular basis and yet they have not bothered to invest their time and effort in getting to know me or allowing me the pleasure of seeing who they really are.
My dear friend Janet and I used to remark that our friendship defied the laws of time and space. I always felt so blessed to experience such a rare and wonderful gift and considered it a once in a lifetime blessing. But now I have found that I have been doubly blessed as you and I share the same phenomenon. So thank you so much for helping me to define and understand what a true friend really is and what a treasure I have in your friendship!
K