Friendship new & old

Friendship isn't black and white like i thought it was growing up. Friendship is one of the most valuable relationships in life. A good friend provides support, encouragement, and joy, making life's challenges easier and its joys greater. However, being a good friend takes effort, understanding, and sincerity. It requires honesty, reliability, empathy, and respect. Here are some key qualities that define a true friend and help build strong, lasting relationships. One of the most important qualities of a good friend is the ability to listen. Good friends pay attention when others speak, showing interest and understanding. This means putting away distractions, maintaining eye contact, and responding thoughtfully. By actively listening, you show your friend that their thoughts and feelings matter to you. 

I have had one best friend since we were elven years old and I have another best friend that I met as an adult. Both are just as important to me. They both mean diffrent things to me for different reasons. My childhood best friend knows me better than anyone, she has met my family and was there when I got married to my husband. She introduced me to my husband. My best friend I met as an adult, I met when my husband was about to deploy. Her husband was already gone when we met, and my husband was leaving. We needed each other more than most people can understand. We just clicked we are so much alike, her bubbly happy personality is opposite than mine but it makes me feel so much better on my bad days. We have more interest alike, I feel like that is because we became friends as adult and we had figured out hobbies and things together.  

They are both just as important and I love them that same. As an adult I understand this, before I wouldn't have understood. To me a good friend, a real friend is everything. Coming from a broken home with not much family my friends are my family, they are the people I chose to be in my life day in and day out. Without them I don't know where I would be. I will teach my children family is always blood its who showed up for you and who continued to show up for you. If they wanted to they would.   

To read more about key aspects of being a good friend click here