The bond of friendship

There is a special connection that exists between friends. It is not unusual to hear one friend say to another, "I was just thinking about you when you called." A friend is someone in whom you can confide because of the trust that has been established between you. You look forward to spending time together because of your mutual interests. There is also empathy and the opportunity to just be yourself. The bond of some friendships endures through a lifetime while others may have a shorter life span. While some determine friendship based on proximity, I have had long distance relationships with friends I sometimes don't see for years. When we do get together it is as if no time has passed since our last meeting. These are people I have known for close to fifty years. What I feel when we are together is a genuine sense of love and caring. Because of the time it takes to fan the flames of friendship, we generally don't count many of them in our current lives. Maintaining a friendship takes effort. Yet the effort it takes is well worth it. True friendships enhance our physical and emotional well-being. Think of someone you consider to be a friend and what makes the bond of that relationship so special. What has it been like for you when a friendship ended? Now ask yourself what qualities you bring to a friendship. Reach out to a friend today and remind yourself how that feels. Who will you contact today?