Friendship Refreshes the Soul
I have always been bad at keeping in touch with friends. Terrible at it, actually. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love them and think about them often!
When covid started, I just became even worse about it, if that’s possible. I kind of stuck to my circle of a handful of friends. Otherwise, I took full advantage of staying home by myself and enjoying “me time”!
And so for the past two years, that’s been it. But suddenly, I am feeling inspired to reach out to certain people or they are reaching out to me. And now, it seems like nearly every night and weekend since the beginning of this year I have had something going on!
I have enjoyed catching up with old friends, growing new friendships, and making great memories. But this week was a special week for me in the friends department…
I got to sit down with a close friend — who unexpectedly showed up from across the country, might I add. It was a wonderful surprise and much needed visit! We laughed, we may have teared up a few times, and we were able to have some real talk for a bit. What was meant to be a quick meal to give an update on recent life events, turned into a three hour lunch that still seemed to be too short. And gosh, it did my heart good! Every time we are together, I grow to love and cherish her friendship even more.
The older I get, and the more phases of life I go through, the more I value deep friendships. Together through thick and thin, whatever life brings. Those friendships are hard to come by. Ones where they say, “I’ll call,” and they mean it. Ones who say, “Text me if you need something,” and they mean it.
Even if I had felt at times like I didn’t have many friends or felt disconnected, I’ve been coming to realize how fortunate I have been to have built strong friendships wherever I’ve been at. And I’ve realized the saying could not be more true, “It’s not the quantity, but the quality that matters.”
Some people are meant to be in your life only for a season. Yes, I’ve had many friendly acquaintances that have come and gone but did my life good at the time they were present. But I’m blessed with some dear, lifelong friendships. I’m glad these people have weathered the storms with me. Gosh, those are the friendships that refresh the soul.
