Forever Friends

If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together. There is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart… I’ll always be with you.

A.A.Milne, “Winnie the Pooh”

Winnie the Pooh is still a favorite of mine and this quote for me sums up friendship in a nutshell! A good friend knows how to make you believe in yourself. It’s not just “fluff” either. Good friends know you are capable of great things even before you do and if there is one quote of wisdom I’d give to both Alfie and Betsy, it’s this one.

Life is all about the friendships you make and what you learn from them and this picture just taken a few week’s ago I’m sure will tell Alfie and his friends Heath and Seb a story about friendship in years to come as well as, if not better then, a lot of written words.

Alfie’s just at the age where he’s forming those first special friendships. He goes to school to see his friends, he likes things because his friends do and he wants to go to places because his friends are going to be there too.

It’s fascinating watching him interact with his friends and at times it melts your heart! Especially when you see him holding hands with his mates or when you watch him dancing, celebrating and cheering others on!

When I was younger I used to want to believe friendship was forever, probably because I loved those “ForeverFriends” teddy bears but the older I get the more I believe that “forever” isn’t always the case when it comes to friendship.

The reality is friends come and go and most of the people whom I used to call friends have moved on with their lives at some point.

I’m not going to lie, it does make me feel rather sad when I think about good friends not being in my life anymore especially when we enjoyed holidays together, celebrated special birthdays, endured school/college and University with each other and even attended each others weddings. But it’s a fact – most friendships don’t last a lifetime and perhaps they’re not meant to.

I’ve definitely parted ways with friends and made new friends through different stages of my life. As soon as you get married, have children and even when your children go to school your whole circle of friends seems to evolve!

I remember being quite down at times about having no friends especially when both Betsy and Alfie were born. It was probably a bit of baby blues and the fact that I spent a lot of time on my own thinking about things when I was on maternity leave.

Darren has always reminded me that he’s my best friend and that I’m his and it’s so true and something I always remember if I’m feeling down and a little lonely at times.

It’s probably because I’ve turned 40 but its weird how when you get to a certain age that you to start to reminisce about old times. Reunions start becoming exciting! Maybe it’s the only way we feel we can re-visit our childhoods!

A school reunion for me is on the cards this year and I really can’t wait to catch up with everyone and hopefully re-ignite some of those childhood friendships.

Its great discovering what everyone is now up to and fun digging out all those old school pictures like the one below and sharing them with one another.

Although friendships change I noticed that my dress sense hasn’t though – i’m still wearing dungarees and my favourite new pair of shoes are my cherry red Dr. Martens!

What friendships have taught me over the years is about who I am and who not to be. With some, you learn about limits you should make. With others, you learn about the world from a completely different viewpoint. All of it helps you grow as a person, which in turn helps you meet more interesting and fascinating people.

Having friends “forever” might be too good to be true, but keeping their love and lessons isn’t. Those can stay with you forever.