Do you have people in your life who have been friends for so long that you speak in a sort of code?
People who have been with you through thick and thin?
Friends who know you inside and out?
Most people have hundreds or even thousands of acquaintances, but relatively few long-time, deep friends.
I’ve just spent the day with Barbara, one of my closest friends. We’ve known one another for decades. We’ve laughed together and cried together. We’ve encouraged one another through difficult times and celebrated the great times together.
A “Through-Line” Friend
Barbara knows my through-line. She knows the things about me that persist over time, and I know hers.
Our friendship isn’t about liking or not liking one another. It’s about knowing each other so well that pretense doesn’t work. I can count on Barbara to be there for me whether or not things are going well.
I can count on her to let me know when I’m just being me and playing out old patterns. I can count on her to be excited and supportive when I’m on the verge of something new. And she can rely on me in the same way.
Give Thanks for Your Through-Line Friends
In this digital age when you probably have “friends” all over the globe, when you feel as though you are friends with more people you haven’t met in person than those you actually know, take time to appreciate your long-time, through-line friends.
Unlike the quick intimacy you build with people through social media, your through-line friends are with you for a life time. Don’t forget to keep in touch with them. Let them know what their friendship means to you.
Your through-line friends know who you really are and they love you for it. That’s a great gift.
ThisWho are your Through-Line Friends?
Make a little list of the friends you have who know you so well that it doesn’t pay to pretend. This holiday season, get in touch with each of them and let them know how important their friendship is to you.
Don’t ever take these lifetime friends for granted. They are your anchors.
How many through-line friends do you have? How do you keep in touch with them? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.
Thanksgiving is a day I write thank-you notes. Sometimes I eat, too, but I want the day to be meaningful, and giving thanks is what makes it that way. This is a great opportunity to do what you are saying, Andrea!
Thanks for your comment, Beth. Yes, this is a perfect time of year to reach out to old friends. Of all the holidays, I like this one, with its focus on gratitude, best!