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Forget Forging New Friendships; Nurture the Ones You Got (a guest post)

by Vishnu

Who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down?

Who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down?

“Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.” Oprah

Need more friends in your life?

No, you don’t!

What!!?? How could you say that V?

Well, I can say that, dear friend and blog reader of mine, because if you’re anything like me, you have an abundance of friends in your life. Or maybe HAD?

From our school and university days to our work days, we make friends. We are regularly around folks who are initially suspecting strangers, then mildly warm acquaintances to finally being best buds we want to spend every minute of our time with. (Well, not every minute – that might make you a stalker!)

Some of us might actually need more friends in our lives. If you don’t have any, yes, you need one.

If you have some (friends that is), you should strive to nurture those friendships instead of finding new ones.

Why friendship matters?

During three critical periods in my life, friends were there for me. And helped save my life. Ok, my sanity, at least.

When I was in my final year of high school in Northern California and my family moved back to Malaysia, I moved in with family friends. Along with them, many of my friends from secondary was how I was able to keep a sense of normalcy in my life. I was 17-years-old and found myself completely alone during the most important year of school. Friends were there for companionship, advice and help.

During college, I again found myself in a new city, living in a college dorm. I didn’t know a single person on campus when I arrived during what was probably one of the rockier years of my life. Getting adjusted to college life and complete responsibility for myself would have been tough if I didn’t have the help of room-mates, dorm-mates and friends.

Most recently, after my divorce, friends were the people in my life that I could most rely on for objective advice, non-judgment and understanding. As painful as divorce was, one of the many positive results were the unbending friendships which only became stronger.

Why savoring friendships can change your life, your world

Friends are there through the rough and smooth patches of travel. They are there to celebrate the dazzling moments but really are there when you crash, fall down, or  fall apart.

A friend can share advice, change your perspective or even be a shoulder to lean on.

A friend in a moment of need can help you through the most prickly of life circumstances and salvage your well-being.

If they can uplift you perspective, rejuvenate your life,  mend your soul, rally your drive – aren’t they changing you life? And your outlook on the world?

How do you keep your best friends forever (bff’s) instead of making new ones every 6months?

You don’t need new friends. You don’t need a lot of friends.

Value the ones you do have. Strengthen the friendship in your life.

How you ask?

Visit my guest post over at Mary Jaksch’s blog and find ten simple ways to strengthen your friendships (Please leave me a comment over there and let me know about the rock-solid friendships in your life and what you’ve done to sustain them)

Photo credit – kenjonbro