Comments on: The Value of Old and New Friendships

By: jenny

jenny — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:51:46 +0000

I think I make friends easily but I find out that true friends are really hard to come by and even harder to find someone with the same values and ideas that I have. I grew up with my best friend but when I got married we lost touch with one another. Thanks to myspace I got in touch with her again after 10 years and we picked right up where we left off. We have been friends now for 2 years and I can see that I grow as a person having her friendship and I would not let her walk out of my life again. As I got older I realized the importance of friendship and its benefits.

By: Nikki

Nikki — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 22:01:29 +0000

This one is also a goodie! There are many many good ones though!!

By: Kelli

Kelli — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:38:09 +0000

I’ve always loved the “idea” of friends, but now that I’m an adult, friendship is very real to me. I feel the same way one of your readers felt…our friends are an extended part of our family.

Im very friendly, so I meet people easily and strike up conversation. But being a part of my inner circle requires time and effort. I dont respond well to people walking randomly in and out of my life, so I hold those who I know are friends forever very closely.

Kellis last blog post..Comes by hearing….

By: Alesia

Alesia — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:56:48 +0000

Sheila,

Thanks for your offer of help in your comment on my last post. We’ve scheduled my mother to meet with a pulmonary specialist at Mass General next month. I feel confident that this is the right move — I think they see this kind of thing (probably pulmonary fibrosis) 200 times a day, which is reassuring. When we have more information, we’ll have to make some big decisions, but we’re taking it one step at a time.

Thanks again.
Alesia

By: Dr. Cason

Dr. Cason — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 22:25:26 +0000

Barbara-

The military is hard but I’ve learned to open up and not be so private. it can be lonely living in our tight little world.

Tiff-

I think you make friends easier than you think. Already you have made me feel better that there is a few people rattling around and reading what I’m writing. That’s what friends do, support and encourage. And you do a great job of that.

Awesome-

“…hit the ground running.” Boy isn’t that the truth. It’s hard to start over isn’t it but I’ve learned that you can enjoy someone’s company and slowly get to know them more. But it does take effort.

Guin-

Do you regret moving as a kid? I worry about my kids each time we go or they see someone move. My kids sometimes in the middle of a conversation or car ride cry out that they miss someone. It breaks my heart.

Magik-

I notice that some people resist as well. I don’t understand that. It must just be easier to keep believing that it doesn’t matter. But it does.

By: White Hot Magik

White Hot Magik — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:24:28 +0000

I think I may lean more towards your husband sense of friendship. I am honestly interested in what other people are up too, what they think etc. even if I haven’t seen them in many years. This last year has been the year of reconnecting. I have moved back to my small hometown, have facebook and myspace accounts and it seems like constantly catching up with people I love it. I notice others resist and don’t really want to “catch” up.

White Hot Magiks last blog post..Friday’s Frugal Find & Sour Cream Enchiladas

By: Guinevere Meadow

Guinevere Meadow — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:57:09 +0000

I remember a song I learned in girl scouts: “Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold. A circle is round, it has no end, that’s how long I want to be your friend.”

I grew up in a military family (air force,) and I remember the frequent moving. It’s hard to keep pulling up your roots and transplanting, but I too have found that my life is so much richer with every new friendship I make.

Guinevere Meadows last blog post..Magnetic Monday: Experiment With a Psychedelic Masterpiece

By: Awesome Mom

Awesome Mom — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:03:48 +0000

This is particularly timely for me since we were just uprooted thanks to the military. This move was the hardest one yet. It was my first with kids which complicated things in so many ways. It was so hard to have to leave the doctors, nurses and physical therapist that cared for my eldest son through a very tough and scary time in his life. My kids also helped me become close with other moms with kids the same ages as mine. I will miss thier friendship and comiseration. At the same time I know that my kids will help open up the doors to new friendships. It is so much easier for me to find excuses to hang out now that I have kids to ease the way. I was rather shy pre kids, so mine have really helped me open up.

Blogging has made me several great friendships, but I still have to have people that I can meet face to face to hang out with. There is something special about being able to see your friend’s face and reading thier body launguage that just can’t be replaced by emails and blog posts.

Now that I am older I think that I value friendship a lot more. It is so reassuring to comiserate with other mothers and find out that you are not nutty or alone in being frustrated by stages that your kids are going through. I have also learned to makefriends more quickly. When you move every few years you don’t have the time to slowly let friendships develop. You have to hit the ground running and get involved right away.

By: tiff

tiff — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:11:29 +0000

I don’t make friends easily but the ones I do make I hold close. I have a handful of really good people in my life and yes, you do have to work at keeping up connections.

I love blogging because it opens up a whole new world and new friendships too. I live in a tiny community in rural NSW, Australia and I don’t get out much so to have such lovely people from all different parts of the world who reach out, uplift and support you, and to know you can do the same thing back is really pretty special.

tiffs last blog post..Weekly Winners, limping it in edition.

By: Barbara Swafford

Barbara Swafford — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 06:41:55 +0000

Hi Dr. Cason,

I love my old and dear friends. They are like part of an extended family. Whether they live down the street or thousands of miles away, when we talk, we pick up where we left off. It’s such an awesome feeling. We will always be there for each other.

I do think we have to cultivate friendships. They can’t be a one way street. Age makes friendships even more special

With blogging I have made many new friends. We’ll probably never meet, but if I see (read) they are in need of a word of encouragement, I’ll take the time to drop them an email or leave a comment on their site stating I’m thinking and/or praying for them. And, if fellow bloggers hit a milestone, I always try to let them know how proud I am of them and give them kudos.

Military life can’t be easy, but it’s great that you make friends easily. I’m sure many look to you for encouragement and support.

Your husband sounds like real cool guy. You’ve got yourself a keeper.

Barbara Swaffords last blog post..Those Are Fighting Words