Friendship, what a big word that carries a lot of truth and impact in our lives. The past couple of weeks I have reminisced on the amazing friendships I have had over the years; I have been asked to speak about friendship on a podcast I was a guest on. Plus, I was sent a message asking me about friendship and my thoughts about it. Then to top it off I watched the fourth season of Steeles Magnolias where three friends have margarita nights to discuss some of the things they have been going through. They have been friends since childhood. Another series I watched on friendship was firefly lane. The friendship of two women that were neighbors as children and continued a friendship through life. The good, bad, and the ugly of life and the roller coaster ride of friendship.
I heard a statement by Jane Fonder where she stated that friendships for women have a great impact on their health. That a friend helps with her soul and body and is necessities like water to drink for survival. There are so many benefits of friendship.
The benefits of friendship are numerous, including:
Emotional Support: Friends provide a shoulder to lean on during tough times, helping to manage stress and providing comfort.
Mental Health Benefits: Good friendships can reduce feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Social interaction and positive relationships have been shown to improve overall mental health.
Physical Health: Studies have shown that having close friends can boost your immune system and contribute to a longer lifespan due to the emotional and social support they provide.
Increased Happiness: Spending time with friends and sharing joyful experiences can elevate mood and contribute to a more positive outlook on life.
Personal Growth: Friends challenge us, offer different perspectives, and help us grow as individuals. They encourage us to try new things, take risks, and step out of our comfort zones.
Better Coping Skills: Facing life’s challenges can be easier with friends. Whether it’s personal issues, work-related stress, or general worries, friends can offer advice, reassurance, and perspective.
Improved Self-Esteem: The validation and acceptance we receive from our friends can positively influence how we view ourselves, boosting confidence and self-worth.
Social Skills Development: Maintaining friendships requires communication, empathy, and cooperation, all of which enhance social skills.
Overall, friendships add meaning to life, help build resilience and offer a source of joy and fulfillment.
Friendship is a deep, trusting relationship between people that involves mutual affection, support, and shared experiences. It's built on respect, understanding, and the desire to be there for one another, regardless of the circumstances. Unlike other relationships (like family or romantic connections), friendships are often based on choice and common interests.
Throughout my years of discovering myself and the years of becoming a better version of myself and working through the trauma of my life. I have had amazing friendships. I have learned to breathe with each one of them and become a version of all of them as they poured into my life. They each gave me pieces of themselves and sacrificed many days and nights to cradle me through my pain and my rediscovering of myself. Some of them sat for hours listening to my story, some dried my tears, as I expressed the pain my heart carried for so many years, some of them would open up their arms and hold me as My body couldn't hold me up anymore because of the pain I was carrying. Some of them prayed over me with a soft kindness, knowing that is what I needed more, Others would shower me with gifts with meaning and write long letters in cards because I needed the words of affirmation as I journeyed to wholeness. others were part of my fan club, seeing beyond my heart and seeing my future of grace and breakthrough.
In my Book, " The Treasures of My Heart" I wrote a full chapter on friendship. These people were my saving grace, and the ones who made me feel like I belonged. I can pinpoint the moments we became friends and then when we became family. they were the ones when my family space was vacant, they came in and filled, mother, aunt, sister, and whatever else I needed at any given moment. They were the ones that carried me through domestic violence, infidelity, burn patient, sickness and menopause at thirty-two because my daughters left my home. They were the ones who brought groceries and cars when I had nothing as a single mom.
Life is better with a circle of people who don't share your DNA but rather share your heart. They will help shape and mold you and whenever you are apart you long to be together. Noone was born with a Fanclub, not counting your mother. But God gives you your people. They are VIP and have backstage passes for life in your arena. Friends come in all shapes and sizes, all walks of life and all different types of age groups. They are your breathe of fresh air. They are okay being on the sidelines watching you grow because they know you are there for them too.
Teddy Roosevelt quote "It is not the critics that count, not the man that points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better, the credit belongs to the man who is in the arena, whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood and if he fails at least fails while daring greatly. The Friendships that stand by the arena with the cloth or tissue to rub your sweat, those are the ones you keep close. As they fight off the naysayers. Friends become bodyguards for your life, and don't allow others to close that they know are there to hurt you. They warn you of the men that are sneaking into your heart and they put big signs up saying BEWARE. Sometimes you listen and other times your friends hug you and tell you, "I told you so" Friends are those that you laugh so hard your stomach hurts and you pee your pants, but nobody knows but, the group of you that has sworn each other to secretaries. We stick together. Friendships are so good for the soul. They are God's gift as he says, friends stick closer than a brother. When you have them hang on for dear life. They don't come a dime a dozen. They are rare and precious.
"Be careful who you call your friends; I'd rather have four quarters than hundred pennies when it comes to friendship" Al Capone
