THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING CONNECTED

When my late husband Barry and I were young marrieds sitting in the backseat of my parents' car my father made the statement that if you make one friend in life you can consider yourself a rich person. Barry and I looked at each other, actually while laughing, and said simultaneously "then we must be loaded!". After all we had friends coming out of the woodwork. We had all our friends from high school and some with whom we kept in touch from college, some from business, some from the neighborhood, and already a number from theatrical productions. However as we traveled through this life, even before his death, Barry and I realized how 'right on' my father had been.

A real friend is a treasure and is someone to be treasured. If you reach that certain age where you can say you have one friend, be it a spouse, a sibling, a child, a parent, or maybe your next door neighbor, you can indeed consider yourself blessed. Sadly many people never really get that in life. I believe a treasured friend is someone you must work hard to cultivate. Mainly it takes 'being there' by 'staying connected'.

If you love this friend who's become a part of your life...let him or her know it. Try to remember their important dates and events so you can 'check in' when they occur. But much more important is to really 'listen' to them. If you can provide this kind of friendship, it is likely the favor will be returned. When you 'need to talk' and to have someone who can really be honest with you regarding what you are saying, and there is one person who immediately comes to mind, that person is there because you have 'been there' for him or her as well. To have a friend, one must 'be a friend'.

In order to keep friends who may become these jewels, you really have to stay connected. Find times and places to spend time together, whether close by or far away. A long distance relationship is better than none, but you really need that 'face to face' or 'one on one' contact for nourishment occasionally.

There is no question that a friend is someone who is there when you've had a loss--however the kind of friend about whom I've been referring, remains on hand well after that loss. Friends have a way of being there when the 'chips are down'
but this kind of friend is there when you have occasion to celebrate as well. That is much more rare actually. Friends are there when you are ill, but when you get better is when you may need them even more.

It is amazing how important these friends are when you travel through crossroads in life, as I recently have. You simply 'get through' largely because of these 'friends'. I have been blessed beyond reason. And I cannot help mentioning as I sit writing this with the Tony's on TV, that there is something so very special about the friends you make who share your passion whatever it may be. People who come to know you this way probably know you best---you just kind of 'get' each other.
So make sure as you may 'move on' from these friends or any other friends, that you remain 'in touch'.

Stay connected---work at it---the benefits are truly worth it. A friend not only keeps you 'rich', but with just one--you are never alone. Now go call whomever you've been neglecting.

Hope these sessions are of help...your emails indicate they are. I thank you.

Dr. Mimi Scott
917 846-2449
visit me at; www.drmimiscott.com