“It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
Lately, I’ve written a few posts about friendship and loneliness. Perhaps it resonates with us more as we age and have time to reflect on our lives. So, I decided to walk the walk and not just talk the talk. Two cases in point.
My wife and I recently returned from a Canadian Rockies trip with three other couples. One couple we’ve known for decades, the other two for just a little over two years—four people we didn’t know existed three years ago. We shared laughs, meals, and adventures together as great friends. More importantly, we created new memories and solidified friendships we’ll cherish for the rest of our lives.
Shortly after our travel party returned from Canada, my sister and I journeyed to Lake Gaston, a beautiful body of water that crosses the North Carolina-Virginia border. This is an annual outing to the lake house of our childhood friends who lived next-door to us. We grew up together. Other family members were there with us, but the four of us who were neighbors have known one another longer than we’ve known anyone else still alive.
We spent time together laughing, eating, and reliving old memories, some of which go back almost seventy years. (Seventy—really?) Distance prohibits us from getting together more often than just this one time a year, but those few days of reconnecting are very special.
And, yes, at times we were stupid with each other, or maybe “silly” is a bit less impolite. The point is: Those of us with hair could afford to let it down, without judgment!
While it’s true the two experiences differed from each other, their value was similar. Don’t we need people in our lives with whom we can share the past, as well as people with whom we can create new memories? Both equally enrich our lives and ward off the specter of loneliness, an insidious force that’s been shown to lead to physical and mental health disorders.
It’s been said, and I believe it to be true, that “people come into our lives for a reason, for a season, or for a lifetime.” Think about it. We work alongside others, but jobs come and go. Staffs change. People move on. Likewise, we make friends for a season of childhood, high school, or college, but we lose touch with most of these folks. People get busy and go their separate ways.
But, friends for a lifetime. Ah, that’s the “sweet spot.” Whether we’ve known them for decades or just a few years, we refuse to let them go. After all, friendships are more valuable than any of our personal assets.
Is there someone missing in your life with whom you need to reconnect? Maybe today will be the day! And when you find them, hold onto them tightly!
34 Comments
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“It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
Lately, I’ve written a few posts about friendship and loneliness. Perhaps it resonates with us more as we age and have time to reflect on our lives. So, I decided to walk the walk and not just talk the talk. Two cases in point.
My wife and I recently returned from a Canadian Rockies trip with three other couples. One couple we’ve known for decades, the other two for just a little over two years—four people we didn’t know existed three years ago. We shared laughs, meals, and adventures together as great friends. More importantly, we created new memories and solidified friendships we’ll cherish for the rest of our lives.
Shortly after our travel party returned from Canada, my sister and I journeyed to Lake Gaston, a beautiful body of water that crosses the North Carolina-Virginia border. This is an annual outing to the lake house of our childhood friends who lived next-door to us. We grew up together. Other family members were there with us, but the four of us who were neighbors have known one another longer than we’ve known anyone else still alive.
We spent time together laughing, eating, and reliving old memories, some of which go back almost seventy years. (Seventy—really?) Distance prohibits us from getting together more often than just this one time a year, but those few days of reconnecting are very special.
And, yes, at times we were stupid with each other, or maybe “silly” is a bit less impolite. The point is: Those of us with hair could afford to let it down, without judgment!
While it’s true the two experiences differed from each other, their value was similar. Don’t we need people in our lives with whom we can share the past, as well as people with whom we can create new memories? Both equally enrich our lives and ward off the specter of loneliness, an insidious force that’s been shown to lead to physical and mental health disorders.
It’s been said, and I believe it to be true, that “people come into our lives for a reason, for a season, or for a lifetime.” Think about it. We work alongside others, but jobs come and go. Staffs change. People move on. Likewise, we make friends for a season of childhood, high school, or college, but we lose touch with most of these folks. People get busy and go their separate ways.
But, friends for a lifetime. Ah, that’s the “sweet spot.” Whether we’ve known them for decades or just a few years, we refuse to let them go. After all, friendships are more valuable than any of our personal assets.
Is there someone missing in your life with whom you need to reconnect? Maybe today will be the day! And when you find them, hold onto them tightly!
34 Comments
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Friends are so very important in our lives…I have found that to always be true –you can never have too many friends and how wonderful to move into a place that allows you to meet so many new people.
…I am very blessed to have such a wonderful group of friends in my life. -
I often think of FB and how it’s a compilation of people from so many different parts of my life. And I do love them all. God has been good to me, to bring so many good people my way. It’s been a hard life, and yet… people who loved me were always there being that light of God’s love and care. Gratitude for you all never leaves me.
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You are singing my song, Tim! Friends bring a richness to life – sharing, laughing and supporting. Some are there for a season but never lose their spot in our life journey. And the beauty, even in our ‘encore’ years, we make wonderful friends at this rich season of life! Blessed to call you my friend!
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“Who needs friends” – well worth the read and a good prod to action.
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What a great article about our need for friendship. I’ve had a college friend for over 50 years and we will probably speak with each other later today. These individuals are a significant part of our everyday life. Thank you for this reminder.
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So true , Tim. Thank you
Friends who we share a history with are precious. Just yesterday I met with two and was filled with joy.
But it is crucial to bring new friends into our lives as well especially as we age. Blessings Dyann -
You motivated me to reach out today to two old friends that I have been thinking about but haven’t spoken to in over two years.
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What a great blessing friendships are! I’m glad you got to let your hair down, Tim. :)
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Many years ago my mother ,who lived to be 94, told me to make new, young friends because” old friends will die on you!” She was right. None of my old, long time friends are living. Being at Matthews Glen has given me the opportunity to make lots of new, young friends. Some I feel as close to as my old friends. What a blessing friends are to our lives. Thank you, Tim.
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What a fun, memorable trip with great friends! So true Tim – friends are gold nuggets and blessings in our lives that we must cherish and nourish. We need these rocks in our lives to laugh with, cry with, be silly with and above all – share with. Old friends are rare and wonderful, and new friends become great friends, too! Love this message, dear friend!! ❤️
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Loss of good friends can be sad… through death or political differences! It has been difficult to make new friends or maybe just lack of effort. My husband had many friends before moving to Charlotte but age is stealing his joy of friendship. Maybe we are too comfortable sitting at home. We don’t live in a social environment and only rely on our church for Sunday socialization. Golden Years are lonely.
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As I’ve said in a previous post on this similar topic…we have a “village of great friends in our neighborhood! Thank God for them in the past two years! As family is few and far between! Everyone has something going on! We love that our family has kids, grands etc..we don’t have that..and it’s ok! We love them all dearly!
Friends are Golden in the Golden years!
Great post Tim!❤️ -
Thanks for sharing, Tim. I’m happy you were able to visit with friends. I appreciate all of the people in my life.
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You had me from the Emerson quote. I remember those high school days with dear friends. You’ve reminded me that I’ve lost touch with someone special that I need to reach out to. Thank you, Tim.
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We just returned from a birthday celebration for my husband in Nebraska. He has one brother, two cousins remaining but connected with some folks he hasn’t seen in many years. While visiting their small town, I enjoyed the interactions of his brother with folks in the diner, at the fast food place, at another table in the restaurant. Small town folks know each other, know the parents of the young people, and keep an eye on each other.
I moved so many times as a child and teen that I never stayed in touch with childhood friends. I’m more intentional about it now and have begun sending notes during the year to friends I’ve only exchanged Christmas cards with up to now. As you mentioned, we reflect on these precious relationships as we age.
Keep up the wonderful Tuesday Thoughts. They are inspiring, informative, and enjoyable. -
I recently said a tough goodbye to friends who I did not know existed a dozen years ago. My iteration of different friendships goes like this … “Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Others stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever, the same.”
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So very true! About 5 or so years ago, a friend of my Dad’s (in his 90’s at this time) said, “I can’t remember not knowing your Dad.”
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Friends are so very important in our lives…I have found that to always be true –you can never have too many friends and how wonderful to move into a place that allows you to meet so many new people.
…I am very blessed to have such a wonderful group of friends in my life.
That’s great, Pam. Thank you!
I often think of FB and how it’s a compilation of people from so many different parts of my life. And I do love them all. God has been good to me, to bring so many good people my way. It’s been a hard life, and yet… people who loved me were always there being that light of God’s love and care. Gratitude for you all never leaves me.
Terrific testimony, Laura! Thank you.
You are singing my song, Tim! Friends bring a richness to life – sharing, laughing and supporting. Some are there for a season but never lose their spot in our life journey. And the beauty, even in our ‘encore’ years, we make wonderful friends at this rich season of life! Blessed to call you my friend!
Back at you, Chris. Thanks!
“Who needs friends” – well worth the read and a good prod to action.
Thank you, Bruce!
What a great article about our need for friendship. I’ve had a college friend for over 50 years and we will probably speak with each other later today. These individuals are a significant part of our everyday life. Thank you for this reminder.
That’s great, Terry. Thanks!
So true , Tim. Thank you
Friends who we share a history with are precious. Just yesterday I met with two and was filled with joy.
But it is crucial to bring new friends into our lives as well especially as we age. Blessings Dyann
Agreed. Thanks, Dyann!
You motivated me to reach out today to two old friends that I have been thinking about but haven’t spoken to in over two years.
Terrific, Cary! That makes the writing of this post worthwhile!
What a great blessing friendships are! I’m glad you got to let your hair down, Tim. :)
Ha!! Thanks, friend!
Many years ago my mother ,who lived to be 94, told me to make new, young friends because” old friends will die on you!” She was right. None of my old, long time friends are living. Being at Matthews Glen has given me the opportunity to make lots of new, young friends. Some I feel as close to as my old friends. What a blessing friends are to our lives. Thank you, Tim.
Your mom was a wise woman, Jan! Thanks!
What a fun, memorable trip with great friends! So true Tim – friends are gold nuggets and blessings in our lives that we must cherish and nourish. We need these rocks in our lives to laugh with, cry with, be silly with and above all – share with. Old friends are rare and wonderful, and new friends become great friends, too! Love this message, dear friend!! ❤️
Well said, Lissa. Thanks … and we did have fun, didn’t we?!?
Loss of good friends can be sad… through death or political differences! It has been difficult to make new friends or maybe just lack of effort. My husband had many friends before moving to Charlotte but age is stealing his joy of friendship. Maybe we are too comfortable sitting at home. We don’t live in a social environment and only rely on our church for Sunday socialization. Golden Years are lonely.
Be careful, Donna. Loneliness is a stealth hunter. That’s why we moved to “The Home.” Great friends here!
Thanks for your candid remarks!
As I’ve said in a previous post on this similar topic…we have a “village of great friends in our neighborhood! Thank God for them in the past two years! As family is few and far between! Everyone has something going on! We love that our family has kids, grands etc..we don’t have that..and it’s ok! We love them all dearly!
Friends are Golden in the Golden years!
Great post Tim!❤️
Great points, and thanks so much, Debbie!
Thanks for sharing, Tim. I’m happy you were able to visit with friends. I appreciate all of the people in my life.
Thanks, Joni!
You had me from the Emerson quote. I remember those high school days with dear friends. You’ve reminded me that I’ve lost touch with someone special that I need to reach out to. Thank you, Tim.
Great, Katherine. That means it was worth the time it took to write it!
We just returned from a birthday celebration for my husband in Nebraska. He has one brother, two cousins remaining but connected with some folks he hasn’t seen in many years. While visiting their small town, I enjoyed the interactions of his brother with folks in the diner, at the fast food place, at another table in the restaurant. Small town folks know each other, know the parents of the young people, and keep an eye on each other.
I moved so many times as a child and teen that I never stayed in touch with childhood friends. I’m more intentional about it now and have begun sending notes during the year to friends I’ve only exchanged Christmas cards with up to now. As you mentioned, we reflect on these precious relationships as we age.
Keep up the wonderful Tuesday Thoughts. They are inspiring, informative, and enjoyable.
Great thoughts, Karen . . . and, thank you!
I recently said a tough goodbye to friends who I did not know existed a dozen years ago. My iteration of different friendships goes like this … “Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Others stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever, the same.”
Great quote, Gene. Thanks! So sorry for the loss of your friends.
So very true! About 5 or so years ago, a friend of my Dad’s (in his 90’s at this time) said, “I can’t remember not knowing your Dad.”
I love it. Thanks!