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Do you have treasured best friends? Those that share your childhood memories or, though you’ve just met, feel like you have known forever?
Friendships are such special things. As children, we learn about the social graces and intimacy, how to listen, how to understand someone, how to talk to someone, when not to say anything, all through friendship. We navigate through childhood, on the playground, in the classroom, school dances and in all those places that are scary to be alone with the help of our friends.
Last year, I made a promise to myself that I would make time to see my friends more. Life gets so busy, and it’s easy to not see your girlfriends for months at a time. I hate that. I know that texting, emailing and visiting on FaceBook is “now”, and calling and talking on the phone when we are driving in the car en route to somewhere else is nice, but really? There is no substitute for actually spending real live face to face time together. This summer I’ve made a true effort to celebrate each and every birthday, or “just because day” with my friends.
There is a group of friends that I go out to dinner with each time one of us has a birthday. We all look forward to it, we try to choose a restaurant that is exceptional, and that most of us haven’t been to before. It’s a real adventure! It’s a treat, since we only go a few times a year, it’s a luxury that we truly enjoy.
There is an art to friendship. Especially now, in these days of everything fast, there is a beauty to taking time to spend with someone you care about. Listening to a friend’s dreams, joys and sorrows. Showing up. At the fun things like celebrations, but also on the not so fun days, when things are hard, when your friend needs a hug, someone to drive her to the doctor, or needs a meal, or just someone to sit beside her.
A friend cheers you on, and celebrates each hurdle you overcome. A friend is there for you, no matter what happens, to support you, to encourage you, to help you. A friend hosts parties for you at her house, or helps you figure out what on earth to make for dinner when your mother-in-law comes over. A friend lends you her best dress, or shoes, if you really need them. I hope that I am that kind of friend.
A friend gives you gifts. Oh, of course there are the “real” gifts, small tokens of her affection, things she thinks you will love. But the most important gifts a friend gives is laughter, silliness, and time spent together through life. Little shots of “you can do this”, “you got this!”, “I’m rooting for you!”
I’m so grateful for my friends. These days, friends are found in many “other” places than in your immediate area. I have friends that I “met” online, and I love them. While I may, or may not, get to ever see them in real life, I can tell we are kindred spirits, I delight in hearing about their lives, their families, their homes, and their business if they have one.
For me, there is no better thing than to spend a day with a friend, while I enjoy days out with shopping, lunch etc. as much as anyone, the days I truly cherish is when I can have friends over, here at home. There is something much more relaxing about having coffee in the kitchen, or lunch or tea in the garden with friends.
It doesn’t take much to set a pretty table, using antique or vintage dishes is my personal favorite, a small personal touch is all that’s needed to say “you are special”. You can serve pretty much anything, it’s really not only “slaved-over” meals that make for a special time. I often just buy things, and arrange nicely, there are so many delicious and/or healthy options!
1. Estate Antique Heart Locket.2.Antique Brides Basket. 3. Glitter Birthday Crown. 4. Extasia Horn Dusty Rose Cameo Necklace. 5. Lavender Fuseau {wands} 6. Antique French Limoges Tea Cups . 7. 19th Century French Ironstone Plates.
What do you like to do with your friends?
Shop for the best in French Antiques, furniture with the patina of age, vintage accessories to delight you and your family & friends, and French Country utilitarian pieces. Treasures that make your home fresh, beautiful, inspirational and uniquely yours. Visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.com.
What a lovely post! I have just last month decided I need to spend more time with my “best” girlfriends. Life is short. Too short for missing out on a friend’s life. Thank you for the reminder.
Lovely, Lidy. Friends are truly treasures! xo
This is a sweet post. Our family and friends are what matters most. I always appreciate your asking about my family, I love shopping with you, you put your heart into FrenchGardenHouse and all of us appreciate that so much, thank you.
I feel lucky to have made a new friend today, too. Thanks for your visit. I love your idea of sharing birthday dinners with friends. My lady friends all bought season tickets to a local theater and we go to dinner before each play. It is a good way to stay connected.
We all need to make more time in our life for friends. These day, life rushes by, and I don’t want to be at the end of it and think I missed out on being with my beautiful friends. We laugh. We cry. And we do everything in between. You hit the nail on the head, whether I am here in the states or in our home in France, it’s the friends there that I cherish most.
I have to say, the hardest part of moving cross country was leaving my friends behind. I had three, very dear friends that although busy, it never felt like we skipped a beat when we did get together. Our dinner get together’s would last for hours as the time passed so quickly. It was always a good time, for sure.
What a lovely post! My best friend lives several states away and I only get to see her once a year. But we keep in touch weekly.
Penny, one of my best friend’s moved, too, and I try to call her at least once a week. And see her once a year like you. I’m thinking of writing her letters once in a while, as I really miss the written notes from friends. Texts just aren’t the same, are they? Thank you for your visit today.
Special friends are the BEST!
From Michelle @simplysantabarbara.blogspot.com
I am blessed by your friendship Lidy, and honored to be among your circle of friends! <3
Dear Lidy, I really enjoyed your post today. I so believe in Kindred Spirits and have meet many through blogging. Many of them have left tender sweet messages that have touched my heart and have helped to make me a better person.Thank you for your blogging friendship. Hugs, Jo
Dear Lidy, anyone who is in your friendship circle, must consider themselves very lucky!!
I am actually visiting in Illinois with my husband’s family and sitting with cousins, who are also best friends. I feel truly blessed to have family that I also consider friends!!!!!
Enjoy your day!
Love and Blessings, Nancy
Nancy, thank you for your kind words. How special to have family that are also Best Friends!