Friends have a special place in our lives, not only because we enjoy spending time with them, but over the years they have had a major influence on the way we are. We have learned from them, laughed with them, shared unforgettable moments, and even fought with them. When we reflect on this we realise that life would be incomplete without some friends we have.

We are able to be ourselves when we are with them because they accept us for who we are, not for what we have. In a world that sometimes sizes up people through their possessions, true friends, like a lighthouse stand firm with us through the high and low tides in our life.

We get into a comfort zone when with them, and yet they never hesitate in throwing us out of our complacency and sometimes cockiness when they see us getting carried away.

We instinctively think of them when we celebrate the happy things in our life, and they are the first ones we think of when we are in difficulty and need someone to be by our side.

Going down memory lane with them is priceless, and they are the ones we share our plans and thoughts for the unknown future.

They allow us our space, knowing when to be there with us, and also knowing when to leave us alone for a while. They often shape us without even realising the influence they are having on the way we think and live.

There are some things we may not be able to share with our family which we share with some friends. They are the safe space of trust and care, and yet the honest voice of perspective. They tell us where we are going wrong, and are the first ones to be there when things go wrong in our life.

We have fought with them because we want them to understand us better, and yet over the years we have a better understanding of ourselves because of them. And sometimes we have had a sharp difference and lost a friendship. It is not that we have stopped silently caring, it may well be that we are internally fighting our ego to take the first step to make amends.

Friendships teach us what life is all about. Through the noise and clutter, when we realise how fortunate we are to have true friends, we start realising what is truly important in life. And when we take a step back and think of all the true friends we have, we will realise a simple fact of life – true friendship is an expression of love.

(Picture – Coal Harbour, Vancouver)