Society & Culture

Friends

Society & Culture

Posted by: CAT17

5th Apr 2012 01:02am

Friends aren't they wonderful! I had a lovely afternoon out today with a fairly new friend (I have known her for nearly 5 years) and when we parted it got me thinking just how wonderful friendship is. I value my friends and love them like extended family. Some friends I have known for over 40 years (we met in our 20's and now all 60 +) My friends are scattered and we now live in different states, but we all keep in touch regularly by phone, email etc. and even though I haven't seen some of them for a few years, our friendships are as strong and caring as ever. We share the good things in our lives (like pics of our children and grandchildren) and the not so good times as we support and comfort each other through illnesses and other things that happen in families. Where would I be without my friends I wouldn't want to think about that. I dont have a lot of friends, but each of them is speical to me and I treasure our friendship and always will. What do friends mean to you?


Comments 8

mika08
  • 26th Jun 2012 01:44pm

Yes, it is great to have friendships. Sometimes you find certain friendships are only meant to last so long and just naturally end. I have had a few friends come and go during my life - sometimes they just slowly phase out. But it is nice to think back and laugh at the fun times you had together. I have always been a very shy person so find it hard to make friends so have never experienced having a BIG circle of friends. I am envious of people who do. I think with being shy people find it too much of an effort to get to know me first.

CAT17
  • 27th Jun 2012 12:55am
Yes, it is great to have friendships. Sometimes you find certain friendships are only meant to last so long and just naturally end. I have had a few friends come and go during my life - sometimes...

They say people come into our lives for a reason. We cross paths with others for a short time and then we move on. But there are some people who stay with us forever and they are the ones we were meant to meet and go through life as part of each other's life.
Making friends can be hard for some, but if you open up and are friendly you will find others will be friendly back. Smiling at people and be willing to listen to what they say is a way of showing people you are interested in them and would like to become friends. You don't need a big circle of friends just one very special friend can be all you really neeed.


Loopie
  • 21st Apr 2012 08:55am

You are very lucky to be able to enjoy and appreciate the value of friendship. After being in an unhappy 30year relationship I now find myself in a position where I have no friends and have to try and make new ones. No easy at my age now, especially when I find it hard to trust now. Hopefully in time it will correct itself and I will learn to make friends again, as life can be so isolated without them

Loopie
  • 28th Jun 2012 08:03pm
Hi Loopie, I too have had relationships go wrong. I have found the best way to move forward is to live in the moment. The past has gone, the future is yet to come. The only time we have is the...

Thanks Richard. I have been taking one day at a time, and have been fortunate to have made some good friends in the process. I am moving forward and remaining positive with it's outlook. I have also a new man in my life who is making me very happy. I have also taken up meditating with him and am moving forward. Thank you for your uplifting words

Richard
  • 27th Jun 2012 12:26pm
You are very lucky to be able to enjoy and appreciate the value of friendship. After being in an unhappy 30year relationship I now find myself in a position where I have no friends and have to try...

Hi Loopie, I too have had relationships go wrong. I have found the best way to move forward is to live in the moment. The past has gone, the future is yet to come. The only time we have is the present. Learn to be there. It is full of potential. We do this b being in touch with any of our five senses of perception in the moment. Good luck - the only person you have to trust is your inner self.

CAT17
  • 21st Apr 2012 11:41pm
You are very lucky to be able to enjoy and appreciate the value of friendship. After being in an unhappy 30year relationship I now find myself in a position where I have no friends and have to try...

Hi Loopie glad you replied. Sorry to hear you are on your own but seriously don't give up on making new friends. I had to make the effort of making new friends after my husband became ill and we had to curtail the greynomading. I was forced to find an outlet for myself as being a carer can isolate you if you let it especially after a long period (nearly 6 years now). My husband has much improved and the friends I found by joining a Reading Group at our local library and then becoming Secretary to a group who fund raise and support the Library have turned out to be so much more than just the Reading Group ladies and are now very special friends. I have added to my friends by having a conversation with a lovely lady in our local supermarket about books and invited her to join my group (which she did) and now 3 months later we are firm friends and have so much in common. She is an advid reader like me, and a movie goer like me. Don't know what I would do without my new friends, they are special ,but ofcourse my old friends are still very much part of my life. I hope you find new friends and they help to fill the void in your heart. Friends, best medicine for all that burdens us!

Richard
  • 21st Apr 2012 05:39am

I agree, friends make life worth living. We live in an over sixties villa complex and find that we are making many new friends here. Other friends, like yours are scattered around the world, but with the aid of modern technology, we are able to keep in touch often. A world without friends would be like a park without trees. It owuld be a desert.

CAT17
  • 27th Jun 2012 12:47am
I agree, friends make life worth living. We live in an over sixties villa complex and find that we are making many new friends here. Other friends, like yours are scattered around the world, but...

Thanks for your reply Richard, sounds like you have ideal way of retirement living where you can make friends and mix with people of the same age. Ofcourse new friends do not replace "old" ones, but are added to a wonderful collection of people we love.

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