A few weeks ago, I wrote about being a bad friend, but I also wanted to talk about being a good friend. Because I think that being a good friend can be one of the most fulfilling things we can do with our lives.

It could be as simple as recognizing a person as a friend. Telling them thank you. Texting them that you are thinking about them. Asking them how they are doing. Recognizing their existence and their importance to you.

It could be calling them on their birthday or sending them a hand-written note.

It could be letting them know when you see something that reminds you of them. Maybe you saw something in a store that sparked a memory you had together. Maybe you did something recently that they also love to do.

It could be just listen to your friend. Hearing what they are worried about, what they are happy about, or whatever is on their mind. Not judging, not telling them what to do, just listening. Letting them open up their heart and mind to the places they were previously afraid to share. Letting them finish their train of thought before you even say a word.

It is loving another human with your whole heart. Not some days, but every day. Not just when you see them, but in the time apart. Friends make up little pieces of your heart and you make up part of theirs.

I think we all have friends that we wished we called more often and sometimes we think that it has been too long for us to pick up the phone and call. It’s never to late for a friendship.

Good friends are forever, and we can hope that they can inspire others to treat each other as good friends do, even after we die.

Thank you my dear friends for being such a wonderful part of my life!