THE JOY OF FRIENDSHIP

​If you’ve asked me five years back , I’d say that I’ve never been happier with friends than those from college.  They’re amazing but they all went abroad except me and we only see each other when they’re in town. 

Further back in time there are friends from grade school through high school but most of them  live abroad too. We catch up on Facebook and when they come home for vacation. 

I developed enduring friendships from work but we didn’t have enough “adventures” to enjoy each other; the bonding times were too far in between and mostly work related. Nowadays we get together only during milestone celebrations. 

Actually friendships start in kindergarten. One stops crying after Mom leaves when a classmate try to engage us in conversation. If connection is sustained over the years; they become the most enduring friendships ever; otherwise they are the ones we will fondly remember. 

But if you ask me now, my answer would be different;  I enjoy being with my neighbors? My walking buddies who quickly turned to real friends before I could blink an eye. 

Why so and why so fast? Because we see each other everyday while we walk seven kilometers. Moreover, we breakfast together frequently. Imagine the bonding time getting to know each other? 

So yes! I am happy that I found these neighbors; my friends now.  They have diverse personalities. The foremost is generous and inspiring; definitely spreads love while the other is nurturing.  One is cheerful another motherly; one is affable while the last two are emphatic and the other diplomatic. As a whole they are all wonderful, generous, warm hearted, supportive and sympathetic individuals. 

Here is a typical week of walking and bonding. 

Breakfast in Red

By the cypress tree in Orange

In Yellow after breakfast at home 

In White with sunglasses 

Black in the street. 

Lavender friendship chain

Pink bougainvillea 

Green in the garden

Breakfast in Gray

Street Blues 

Engaging with younger friends makes us experience diverse interests; they exude a unique sense of humor. They keep us in touch with the times;  refreshes and updates us with the latest techie lingo, the acronyms and slang commonly used in social media. In other words they make us feel young. 

I thought that in retirement I’d live a slower life. I know it can be liberating; no more playing the corporate game. 

As Kathy Merlino, my fave retirement blogger put it: “ no more go along and get along at work and work, work, work to achieve more in order to gain  higher levels of prestige, money and success”. 

I tried to look for my next big thing when I retired; I wanted to pursue a hobby and turn it into a business. Success only means doing something that would bring revenue right? WRONG! It will never guarantee happiness. 

My younger daughter suggested to get on with my life and just do the ordinary, so I started to walk, did five thousand steps a day that led me to new heights. The exercise and the joy of friendships provided a healthy balance. 

Getting older without friends is a long and lonely road towards the end. After retirement we miss the office camaraderie and the only way to fill the void is to connect more with friends. 

So here’s to friendship! Cheers to my friends, old and new!