Today is “Best Friend Day”. Do we really need a day to remind us to how important friends are to our lives? At first thought, I didn’t think such a day was necessary. Then, I did a quick scan of my friendships and looked at what kind of friend I am. Fellow blogger, Lori Deschene, asked her Facebook friends, “What does it mean to be a true friend?” She received some insightful answers, which I’ve boiled down to a few ideas.
“Always be there, even in silence.” (Nerrisa Nam)
To be there means to me that we need to make ourselves available to listen or visit with a friend. Life is hard, and people come and go throughout our lives, so standing next to those special people is important – in good times and bad times.
Oddly enough, those bad times often require us to sit silently beside our friends. A quiet presence speaks volumes during those times of anxiety, worry, sadness and sorrow. The fact that you’re there makes the other person feel like they’re not alone during a frightening time.
A true friend is someone who always listens and is genuinely interested in the good and bad, someone who calls or writes just to say hello. (Kimberly McCarthy)
What I like about this description are the last words, “calls or writes just to say hello”. I love popping into my friends’ busy lives with a cheery, “Hi. Just calling to say ‘Hey’ and see how you’re doing?”
I enjoy sending my friends holiday cards for Christmas and other holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc. I see each card as a little gift of my thoughts.
Don’t let your own stuff get in the way. The ego is powerful. (Sabrina Toffey)
When we let “stuff” get in the way, separation and distance enter into our friendship. This one requires extra work. Our careers and professional lives often derail our friendships. Even though interests or people in other areas of our lives demand a lot of our time and energy, we must remember the people who knew us “when” when we weren’t that successful businesswomen, doctors, wives, mothers, etc.
Be willing to let your friends be there for you. (Casey Kimes)
Oh, yes, many of us have learned to be so darn independent and self-reliant. Or, we feel that our friends are too busy to listen to us or be with us. So, what do we do? We keep quiet and don’t’ reach out and say, “I need a friend. Can you spare a minute?”
When we don’t reach out to our friends, we miss out on receiving unconditional love. And equally important, we deny our friend the chance to be a blessing and an instrument of God’s love for us. You must be willing to receive, even if you must ask.
I want to end with this best friend quote:
We never need to be or feel alone in this world, but it’s up to us to create and allow opportunities to be together, enjoy each other, and be there for each other. It’s up to us to make our relationships priorities. ~Lori Dschene
Yes, a Best Friend holiday is necessary. The day forces us to take stock of our friendships. It also gives us a chance to evaluate ourselves and see how we can be better best friends and make our relationships a priority.
If you’re intrigued by the complexities and joys of friendship, you’ll want to read my article on “Happy Friendship Day.” It explores the significance of Friendship Day and offers a curated list of articles that delve into various aspects of friendship. Don’t miss this comprehensive look at what makes friendships so special.
Editorial Update: We strive to keep our content accurate and up-to-date. As part of our ongoing efforts, this article has been moved from Personal Development to INSPIRATION & PERSONAL GROWTH on 09/14/2023.
This article was first published on June 8, 2015, and updated on October 30, 2023. We enriched the content to improve your reading.
