Beech Tree News Network

Friendship is a little like marriage: we tend to take one another for granted. I recently learned that February is International Friendship Month, and National Friendship Day is the first Sunday in August, established by a 1935 U.S. Congressional proclamation (http://www.friendshipday.org/when-is-friendship-day.html). Although I’ve never celebrated either, I am extremely thankful for my friends. They are an important part of my life.

In a 2016 Mayo Clinic article, “Friendships: Enrich your life and improve your health” (http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/friend...), the author stated: “Friendships can have a major impact on your health and well-being…. Good friends are good for your health.” According to the article, friends may “increase one’s sense of belonging and purpose, boost your happiness and reduce your stress, and improve your self-confidence and self-worth,” as well as several other benefits identified in the article. Studies have also shown that among older adults, those having a rich social life are likely to live longer than those with fewer social connections. 

Much has been written about friendship, including the quotes below (https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_friendship.html):

•Never explain – your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway. –Elbert Hubbard

•My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me. –Henry Ford

•Friends are the siblings God never gave us. –Mencius

•A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself. –Jim Morrison

•A true friend is one who overlooks your failures and tolerates your success! –Doug Larson

•A true friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be anywhere else. –Len Wein

•Love is blind; friendship closes its eyes. –Friedrich Nietzsche

•A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down. –Arnold H. Glasow

•A friend to all is a friend to none. –Aristotle

•Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing. –Benjamin Franklin

The Mayo Clinic article mentioned above also said: “Many adults find it hard to develop new friendships or keep up existing friendships…. Developing and maintaining good friendships takes effort.” Adults often have responsibilities that result in time and/or distance problems to maintaining friendships. I have friends whom I value, but am unable to spend as much time with them as I’d like. We have developed a pattern of occasionally spending a day together or having a meal together. I asked friends and family what they enjoy doing with their friends: “Time with friends may be hard to schedule, but is important. What do you and your friends enjoy doing together?” Their responses are below:

•Since my time is so limited, we usually just share a meal and try to catch up as much as possible in the hour or so available to us.

•We don’t do anything with friends.

•Work on vehicles together.

•Eat. Day trips. Eat. Attend events. Eat.

•Get together for fight nights (aka UFC) where we have food and stuff or go to dinner and a movie.

•Meet and eat! Small groups, clubs, often schedule meetings around a meal. Occasionally, a short trip to shop, etc.

•I have a group of knitting friends that I meet at Starbucks once a week. We knit and enjoy coffee together. I find it’s a highlight in my week. There are also a few couples from church that we eat out with once or twice a month. I don’t enjoy this as much as I used to since some of them now like to get political. Spending time with others is something we have to work at, and it does often get lonely.

•Laughing! The best part of being with friends is the laughter we share. It’s always good to get together and just enjoy each other’s company. Good food is always a part, too.

•We celebrate birthdays. We go eat together Sundays after church. Some of us attend classes together (like art classes). We go to getaways because there are no outside distractions.

•Lunch/dinner.

•I enjoy just hanging out at one of our houses, having appetizers, and catching up. That being said, I’m always up for an adventure, too!

•Mutual hobbies, social events, and catching up.

•Going out to eat and shopping.

•Going to a movie, staying in and watching a movie, or a little shopping.

•Bunco once a month! Going out to lunch, going to concerts or movies, and shopping!

•My favorite thing to do with my friends is sit around and talk. We go to each other’s houses and sit and talk, laugh, tell stories, eat and watch our kids play. 

The Bible teaches: “A friend loves at all times…” (Proverbs 17:17, NIV), and “My command is this: love each other, as I have loved you” (John 15:12, NIV). Since February is International Friendship Month, let’s use this time to tell our friends how thankful we are for their friendship. Who knows, this might be our best opportunity.