It is Good You Exist
When we enrolled our son in preschool, the teacher used to announce new people with “Look, a new friend.”
Companions
A friend is a companion, a word that comes from the French meaning with-bread (com = with, pain = bread).
Balloon Friends
For February, I want to unpack what a friend really means. Let’s start with a beautiful metaphor. Friends are like balloons, hot air balloons. They light up our sky. This brilliance is only possible because behind the incredible show of light and color, someone worked very hard on this balloon. Read more on this balloon metaphor […]
Sorting Friends
We all know about sorting laundry. I like to make a pile of all the socks, then find their matches. Friends are the pair to our lone sock. We match each other. And once we know how we pair off with our friend, we can connect in the places that are natural and enjoyable. Because […]
Why Christmas is Often a Bore
Almost 100 years ago, Dorothy L. Sayers wrote, “Great bore, Christmas, isn’t it? All the people one hates most gathered together in the name of goodwill and all that.” To which Lord Peter Wimsey responds, “Bring a couple of whiskies.”* The rush and bubble of all those people we don’t really know and, let’s be […]
Mapping Out Friendship
If someone asked you to draw a map to find a good friend, could you chart the path? Maybe you know a few landmarks? What are the signs that you’re on the path to a strong, lifelong friendship? I took inventory recently and came up with this list. What has led me to great friendships? […]
Mercy from our Families
My grandfather taught me how to signal across the room, a sign that all was well and that he loved me. A grin accompanied with a longer blink, subtle and yet clear as day. I doubt anyone else would have seen it. We had a family whistle, too, a way to find each other in […]
