I’ve been reminded a lot lately with things I’ve read and conversations I’ve had about how important close friendships really are.
Over July 4th, we spent time in Houston with one of my closest friends, a friend I’ve known since high-school (who also happens to be the godmother to our boys). We did some fun family stuff that we all enjoyed and part of the time was spent talking and catching up one-on-one. And we caught up a lot. Of course we catch up via phone and online regularly, but we caught up face-to-face. Nothing beats that face time to catch up. You can look into someone’s eyes and know when to probe more or when to let a topic go. We had moments to laugh when the laughter was contagious. It was fabulous!
Nothing replaces friendships. And long-lasting (we won’t call them “old”) friendships can’t be replaced. These are the people who know you and your stories and love you for them. They saw you fall in love with your significant other and know your first moments as a mom. These close friendships bring you joy as you celebrate each other’s amazing successes and bring you heartache with the tough moments. They’re there to prop you up when you are down or stumble. You love each other all-the-more for all of this – good, bad, and ugly.
Enjoy all of it. Hug a friend today! Can’t hug a friend in-person? Pick up the phone and call. Take a moment to hear how things are going and simply chat – on your way to pick up kids or to the grocery store. It doesn’t have to be hours (but it’s great when it is). The time between catch-ups melts away and we can pick up where we left off with our last conversation. Remind your close friends how much they mean to you.
Have you spent time with close friends recently? Was it all you were hoping for? I’d love for you to share a story about friendship in the comments.
