Last weekend I visited a very dear friend of mine in Belgium who at the weekend also introduced me to another friend. We all got on amazingly well, helped by the fact that we share a common interest – a love of horses and animals.

Returning on Eurostar, with plenty of time to reflect and give some thought to what I would write about in this week’s Blog, I decided to dedicate it to friends and how important they are to our happiness and well being.

Research shows that people with good friends are generally much happier, although some natural loners are happy to be without friends, most of us depend greatly on the company of our true friends.

With any relationship, friendships bring support and joy although they can at times be difficult, but that is what being good friends is all about.

As small children we have the capacity to make friends very easily, we have no prejudices, we see someone our size and engage in conversation, regardless of background, colour or religion. We only have to look at young children in a playground or on a beach to see this in action. I met one of my best friends at the age of 4 and I am pleased to say we are still very close and see each other regularly.

When we approach our teenage years, we become a little bit more self conscious and perhaps a little bit more choosy on who our friends will be, for example, do they like the same things we do, do they dress the same, do they belong in our social circle.

We then go out to work and are thrown together with people, who if it weren’t for work, we might not ordinarily have come into contact with. Again great friendships are forged in the workplace, which isn’t surprising as this is where we spend most of our working lives. I have met many of my close friends through work and have kept in touch with them even when we have both moved on.

Then of course there are the friends we meet through one’s hobbies, further education, through friends of friends and holidays. I have also made some very good friends whilst walking my dog and more recently even catching the train to work. Exes can also remain friends and I believe a few of mine are even followers of my Blog.

So what makes a friendship and good friend?   For me, it’s sharing things, having something in common, laughing and sometimes even crying together, someone who is there in our times of need and vice versa.   They do not judge and are good fun and company. Sometimes we don’t see a friend for a long time but when we get together again it’s like we only saw each other yesterday, to me that is a true friend. I can’t imagine life without my wonderful friends and I’m happy they are in my life.

Anais Nin put it beautifully when she said  “Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.”

I would be really interested to know what a good friendship and friend is to you?

Good friends are like stars,
we don’t always see them but we know they are there.

Wishing all my wonderful readers and friends
a week filled with love and happiness.