“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.”

― Elbert Hubbard

Who is a true friend? A friend is not just an acquaintance. We may have many acquaintances—neighbors, colleagues, and people we meet now and again. A friend is a friend you can rely on, you connect with, and someone you are comfortable sharing your feelings with, someone who is a loving listener.

 Good friends are good for your health!

True friendship requires an investment of time, energy, and emotional commitment. It is an honor to be someone’s friend. Friendship brings privileges, but it also involves responsibilities. Friendship takes effort, but that effort is well worth the enjoyment and comfort you gain from a good friend. It involves give and take. At times you are the one giving support and at other times you are the one receiving it. Those times are part of what strengthens the friendship bond.

A good friend is someone who no matter how long it’s been since you have seen her, you are able to pick up as if no time has gone by at all. I feel very fortunate to have friends like that.

A close friend doesn’t always have to be someone outside your family, it could be a sister, a brother, cousin etc… We don’t always find this friend in our teen years, most women I know have found as we have aged and our lives have changed, our values are different and we have matured into the person we are today, this is when we have found our true friendships. Most definitely your mate should be your closest friend!

Here are 8 points I think are important in a true friend:

• Improve your mood: Friends boost your happiness, happiness is infectious and spending time with positive people can elevate your mood.
• Help reach goals: Friends can help you when you’re trying to get fit, write your first book, learn a new language, etc… Encouragement from your friend will boost your willpower and increase your chance of success.
• Decrease your stress and depression: Friendship can reduce isolation and loneliness. It increases your sense of belonging, improves your self-confidence and self-worth.
• Communication: Having good communication with our friends is a must. Having friends to turn to for company and support as we age and go through the heartache of losing a loved one is vital.
• Be real: You can laugh or cry, act silly or serious, with a real friend you will feel the warmth of that connection. Friends will speak from the heart without fear of being belittled or having their confidences betrayed.
• Forgiveness: We all make mistakes and might hurt the ones we love. A real friend can forgive the mistake when one is truly sorry. A real friend will reach out to you.
• Loyalty: Loyalty is vital for friendship. True friends don’t gossip about each other, they have your back. You feel safe with those friends.
• Celebrate: Real friends celebrate your victories with you. They cheer you on and want what is best for you. They are genuinely happy for you.

What do you look for in a friend, what’s important to you?

“I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light.”

― Helen Keller