I’ve never been one to make friends easily. I kept the same core group of friends throughout my entire high school career, in fact we’re still friends today. But as life moved on and I moved away from the security of my hometown, making new friends became inevitable. Luckily, I inherited some pretty amazing friends when I landed a job at the local video store in my college town. The small staff quickly became a very close knit group of friends. Despite moves across the state and even across the country, I managed to keep two amazing girlfriends from this job and for my 21st birthday we got together to celebrate and ring in the New Year. Without going into to the sordid details they helped me ring in birthday in proper fashion.
Our relationship then was very different than it is today. It was built on things most college friendships are made of like holding each other up through late night study sessions, having someone to hold your hair back on your birthday, complaining about our part time job and who had the worst professors. It was summer bon fires, tanning on the beach and dreaming of spring breaks we could never afford to take.
These days we’re both married with kids, and we have busy jobs and hectic schedules. A few months ago, my family and I were invited to dinner in their new home. It was such a great night, having our families enjoy one another and creating more memories. I’m so thankful that ours is a friendship that easily picks up as if it never left off, even though we don’t get together as much as we would like anymore.
Making the effort to keep in touch by phone and by mail, definitely helps in maintaining the bond. In a digital world, it’s so nice to get a note or card via snail mail. Today I’m sending her a Hallmark card co-designed by Sarah Jessica Parker. Sex in the City is one of her favorite movies (we did work in a video store after all) and it’s only fitting that Sarah’s role involved making unforgettable memories with friends.
What do you do to maintain your close friendships?
It’s hard to maintain friendships with such busy lives. A simple text or message just to say hi is always nice to show you’re thinking of that person.
Very sweet! I’ve hung on to many old friends but have also made new ones along the way. I think it’s so important to have friends from all walks of life.
Sweet post. The best friendships always go on forever, even when you don’t have time to catch up for long periods of time. It feels like you were never apart – that’s what makes it a true friendship :)
As the book of Proverbs say, you need to be a friend if you want to have a friend. I have sanguine personality so I tend to open up conversation and break the ice when I meet new people. I love being around people and would surely want to know as many people as possible. As this might be the case, I can still say that I make great friends who I kept for the last decades. Friendship is a commitment and investing in a relationship is really one of the best investments you can ever make. :)
I think maintaining and nurturing your friendships is very important. I have a best friend who had been in my life since we were three years old and to this day we remain super close. We may not get to talk every single day but when we do, it is like no time has passed at all.