compliments of Chikilino via Pixabay

When we think of friends, who comes to mind? Someone who extends themselves to include you in their personal network, ensures that you are not alone, and who goes the extra mile to demonstrate their care and concern. Perhaps a person who offers you a standing invitation to be a part of their family’s holiday celebration.

Those who tell it like it is. Sometimes, we need to hear the truth, absent a varnish of unwarranted praise, supportive commiseration, or pats on the back. The truth does not however need to be ugly – we can gently explain what we see in someone else’s blind spot.

Nurturing friendships takes time, focused attention, and regular maintenance—via phone calls, face to face chats, or via virtual visits. Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) suggests that social connection is an integral aspect of our well-being.

In a world where text and instant messages predominate, those people who are there for us are the ones whom we most remember.