Friendship comes in many forms and above all it is the kindness and gratitude we surround ourselves in each and every day. I suppose in some ways it’s a little bit like a freshly washed doona cover; warm, fluffy and ever so comforting. The human element to friendship is very real. Not only do we feel the emotions, both highs and lows, of our close friends we wish for nothing more than for them and their loved ones to be happy and healthy.
Friendship in the younger years can be challenging and it’s not until we begin adulting that we realise a small amount of close and reliable friends is more beneficial and important than a thousand followers on insta! Real life friends are the key. Ones you can speak to and when time in our busy schedules permits, even spend time with. In our younger years friendships are often fluid and the reality is this is the way it should be. People come and go into our lives for many reasons and we learn just a little something from all of them. We continue to grow in character and the people that you have strong connections with on a personal and sometimes emotional level will eventually be your life long friends, they are your ‘keepers’. Whether you live many miles away or even in the same suburb, the quality time you spend with your friends are precious memories to bottle.
Being proud of and happy for friends good fortune and successes is a strong human quality. It is easy to slip into the world of ‘the green eyed monster’ and wish we had all that others have. Nobody in life has everything and nobody ever will. To see positivity and achievement in others lives can give us internal strength to strive. Young people really should focus on congratulating their friends and in some ways it is a learnt behaviour from their parents. Make it a family value – put that green eyed monster to bed and embrace some happiness with others!
Life is not a competition, it is a journey. Share this journey with your loved ones. Enjoy your own special moments and take time to enjoy theirs.
By Kate Meadows