As Comfortable As an Old Pair of Shoes

Not the most flattering way to describe a dear friend, but hey, if the shoe fits...

OK, OK. I'll stop.

I good friend of mine finally made it to town and we were able to spend most of the day together yesterday. It was great! We talk on the phone and trade emails, but it was nice to just kick back and talk face to face. We reminisced about the good ol' days, shared dreams of the future, and talked about our relationships (well, his anyway.)

We also talked about the things that touch and form our lives, and this is where I realized just how much I appreciate the friendships that I have been able to cultivated in this world. I've come to realize that every person I call a friend has certain qualities in common. They are all open-minded, optimistic, and unopposed to change. They're also smart, strong, challenging and above all, kind individuals. I find that having relationships with people of these qualities creates an atmosphere where we can feel free to be ourselves and grow without fear of judgment or criticism. We're able to explore or develop new ideas in a healthy environment, which is very important to our personal well being.

Whether I've drawn these people to me, or they've drawn me to them, I'll never know. All I know is that I've been blessed and I will always cherish my friends.