In a recent conversation with friends, our discussion centered around the friendships we experience in a lifetime, their value, uniqueness, and their ability to grow with us.
Last month, my college roommate, Bonnie pictured above, died after a brief illness. I’m grateful to have had time to reconnect and acknowledge our friendship before her passing. After college, she continuously traveled the world occasionally sending me a post card letting me know where in the world she was. We met every few years to reminisce and update each other.
Today, I reflected on my cache of treasured friends. With some, I connect a few times during the year through Christmas cards, birthdays, and major life events. Some I connect with more often. A small number of long-term friends gather every few years for an extended visit, timeless moments that light up my life. My grandmother had a saying about the value of relationships, something like, ‘they’re jeweled charms on a bracelet.’ I’ve heard people say true friendships are rare. I’m blessed to have many cherished friends, and each one is unique.
Friendships are more important to me than possessions, professions, and politics. My recipe for friendship includes large dollops of honesty and vulnerability, equal parts listening and sharing, generous parts respect, love, and humor, blended and attended to as agreed upon.
4 Comments
CL
Kate,
You’re an outstanding friend and I am grateful for our connection and ability to cherish each other’s special moments together.
This is a beautiful reminder of how special friendship can be, and I know Bonnie and you will continue to be friends forever. Love, CL
Erika
Just before reading your article on friendship I had emailed a friend from college with whom I have kept in contact over the years, at least with an annual Christmas card. We’ve decided that phone calls are going to become routine, and although our lives have gone in different directions, we still have a strong bond in that we shared an important and informative time in both our lives. We’ll start with that wonderful time we shared, and catch up and build from there. Friendship doesn’t end because miles separate you.
Elaine Fraser
Kate, I love your reflections and I love you. Your recipe for friendship is delightful, as are you. Can’t wait to see you later this year. Much love, Elaine xxxx
Liz
Thank you Kate for your thoughts on friendship. I recently talked to someone who said she really didn’t have many people in her life that she would call friends. So, what is a friend are there levels of friendship? Acquaintance, close friend, special friend. Just because we share history or memories, would we trust them with our hearts or life now? I read somewhere that you’re blessed if you even have a handful of friends during your lifetime that are friends that accept and love you unconditionally. I call these Soul Friends and I’m so thankful for the ones that have accompanied me on this journey.