What is the definition?
As I am now considered a senior citizen (how did that happen?) I often contemplate, what is a friend?
I am sure all of you who are at a certain age wonder about that.
How do you define a friend?
I have had the opportunity at this time in my life to really define the word friend. I lost a great friend a few years ago and it truly broke my heart. I felt my heart was broken. It ached. I had chosen this friend to be in my life and we had a heart connection for 30 years. In my own sense of how I defined friendship, I thought I would never heal. But, it takes two to be a "friend couple".
But I did.
How?
At the same time, I also continued loving relationships in California that I treasure as if they were my life blood. I adopted a few as family, and now many more in SMA.
In moving away and redefining friendship, I found a host of people that wanted to be a friend. There were no strings attached, just loving people who wanted what I wanted, a true friendship. No strings, no complications, just a loving relationship built on mutual interests, respect and a desire to be in each others' life.
What is the difference? A maturity maybe, a newness, a respect for who we are today. Maybe simply a joy that we all found each other and could count on one another. A knowing.
But, I know that these people that I now call friends would be there for me as I would for them. No games. We actually all need each other in these tumultuous times. We rely on the fact that when one of us needs someone, we ALL show up. We protect one another. We express love for one another. Whether it be distant, such as California, or local, SMA, true friends are a good recipe for life.
We can count on each other.
My friends in California still mean the world to me and I will continue to be in their lives as they are in mine. I am blessed.
That is true friendship, love. Maybe it is the maturity of finding each other at this age that we appreciate what time we have left. Maybe we are just wiser and willing to open our hearts sooner. I feel the same about California friends, we are all still there for each other, miles don't matter.
So, remove the games, be honest with each other and share the true joy of being in each others' lives for this wonderful season of our lives. We are blessed to have reached this age in relatively good health and every moment should be treasured.
Make it rich, make it loving, make it appreciative.
Blessings to you all!
Barb