True friends are one of the gifts we receive as we go through life. They listen, they care, they call or visit when no one else will and they accept us for who we are, warts and all. I have a dear friend whom I have known since the age of 6. I know that when I speak to her I can count on her to listen and to care. She knows me like not many other people do, because she walked beside me for a number of years in school. She came from a family of 5 children while I was an only child. I was amazed by the noise and the interactions between the brothers and sisters. We loved going to each others houses because of the fact it was so very different from our own.

We remember each others birthday, we call every now and then to make sure the other is doing okay (we live in different cities). Its nice to know that someone out there, aside from family, who knows the real me. I recently shared with another long time friend that I may be requiring surgery, perhaps in the Fall. She immediately offered to go down to Vancouver with me, so that I would not be alone and to help alleviate the stress on my Mom by allowing her to stay in Vernon. Only a good friend would make such a kind offer. I have known this person since 1975 when we both lived in Regina as young married women with babies. Our lives have changed radically since then, our children are grown and we are now both living in the Okanagan. I felt so cared for when she made this kind offer.

It is my belief that having and being a good friend is very important in life. Most challenges and stressful situations can be overcome if someone is there to soften the fall, help you get up, listen and assure you that you are not going crazy, tell you that you are valuable, compliment you on being you and generally be kind and gentle toward you. Their words and actions can help you to feel worthwhile as a human being.

Friendship is a self-esteem builder and can be a stress reliever as well. As Henry Ford once said, "My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me."

In todays seemingly speeded up world, we dont seem to have as much time to nurture friendships. We are all rushing from one place to another and not taking the time to notice our fellow human being. No wonder we feel stressed, we are missing an important ingredient. Human interaction. That wonderful and very valuable time where we stop using our working brain and switch to our hey, how ya doin? brainand allow ourselves to wind down and just connect with others.

Have you got a friend you havent connected with for a while? Stop what your doing. Put the paper down and call them. Its important. Ive got a few on my list that Im about to call.