The Change of Tides---In the waters of friendship

Do you remember how your friendships were when you were 5, 10, 13, 16, 21 and so on? It's amazing how friendships change over the course of our lives. As we grow and change, the qualities we look for in friends change too. There is a small percentage of people who remain friends with their childhood buddies, and of that small percentage, the friendship is much different now than it was in the early stages. I remember many of my elementary and high school friends, very fondly in fact! I had some great memories back then, and one of the things I remember from those days was thinking that we would be friends FOREVER!

Sadly, forever doesn't usually happen with those friendships. People grow up, move away & sometimes might even forget why they ever liked you to begin with! Sad...but true!

Thanks to some online social networks like myspace, twitter and my favorite, Facebook, it is easy to get reconnected to those old school friends from years gone by. I love finding out how they have been living their lives over the past decade & seeing pictures of their beautiful families and how they themselves have changed over the years.

Now as an adult woman in my 30s, and after going through some things in my life over the past few years...I step back and evaluate my friends; Those that are true friends, that stand by me through it all. Those that are there and listen (but I can tell that once I've hung up the phone, they have forgotten all about our conversation). And those that "say" they are your friend but you NEVER hear from them and when you call they are always too busy or maybe don't even answer the phone...you know the kind, the one's that are you friend when it's convenient for them!?

I want to share with you an email that was forwarded to me, just yesterday that kind of sums up friendships for us women. When I read it, I knew that this was my subject for my next blog....

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
When I was little,
I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,
And then I started to become a woman.
And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up,
God would show you the best in many friends.

One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man.
Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mom.
Another will sit beside you in the bleachers as you delight in your children and their activities..
Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be together,'
Another , 'Let's fight together,'
Another , 'Let's walk away together.'

One friend will meet your spiritual need,
Another your shoe fetish,
Another your love for movies,
Another will be with you in your season of confusion,
Another will be your clarifier,
Another the wind beneath your wings.

But whatever their assignment in your life,
On whatever the occasion,
On whatever the day,
Or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back,
Or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself .
Those are your best friends.

It may all be wrapped up in one woman, But for many, it's wrapped up in several..
One from 7th grade,
One from high school,
Several from the college years,
A couple from old jobs,
On some days your mother,
On some days your neighbor,
On others, your sisters,
And on some days, your daughters.


Anway, for me, I've always taken pride in my friendships and tried to be the best friend I possibly can be, even when I felt that I wasn't getting the same in return. It was ok, and although I would like to say it still IS ok, really and truly it's not. I want to know that I am important to my friends, because I feel it's important to let those you care about know they are important to you. So if it's been a while since you have called and spoken to a friend of yours...pick up the phone and call them, or send them a card. Trust me, it will truly be the right decision to make. ESPECIALLY IF THAT FRIEND IS ME! :-)