Claire and I have been friends for so many years, have worked together, travelled together, laughed together, cried together – she is truly one of my favourite humans in the world and it mean SO MUCH to have her come stay in my seasidey paradise with her two boys. The minute we hugged on the doorstep it was like we saw each other yesterday, and the time whizzed in a flash.

It reminded me of an article I wrote for The New Zealand Herald a while back on the importance of that small handful of truly deep friendships that I hope we are all lucky enough to have, so that article is below for you. I hope you too have at least one, or several of these solid gold gems to count on in your life.

PS:  know so many of you love and adore Claire and her work, her website is here, and you can follow her on Instagram here.

Here we are on the beach in the sun, only 1 degree, with very warm hearts 

Here is the article I wrote on friendship – I hope it speaks to you today 

A good friend will not just tell you that it’s all going to be fine. Because sometimes it’s just not.

A good friend will turn up with cold wine and her best snacks and say that it’s not going to be fine, that it will be hard, but you will get through it.

A good friend will cancel her plans, cajole you to put your trainers on and get you running or walking that trail.

She knows it won’t fix or mend it, but that fresh air and movement will help in a subtle way.

A good friend will know that sometimes there are no words that will fix it, or make it better, but a gentle presence is reassuring in the darkness.

A good friend will check in and see how you are doing, even when there is nothing new to say.

Sometimes a platitude won’t cut it.

But words of wisdom won’t either.

Sometimes it’s just hard. The only way out is through. And good friend will walk it with you.

That the greatest thing they can do for you is to know they cannot heal it for you, but that you will not face it alone.

I hope you have not just one, but a good strong handful of these people in your life, Test.

Hold onto and treasure those people like the gold they are.

I wrote this blog for you (not AI) – it contains real human energy and real human heart, just as it should.

The post The meaning of a good friend appeared first on Louise Thompson, Life Coach, Wellbeing Writer and Speaker.

A good friend will not just tell you that it’s all going to be fine. Because sometimes it’s just not.

A good friend will turn up with cold wine and her best snacks and say that it’s not going to be fine, that it will be hard, but you will get through it.

A good friend will cancel her plans, cajole you to put your trainers on and get you running or walking that trail.  She knows it won’t fix or mend it, but that fresh air and movement will help in a subtle way.

A good friend will know that sometimes there are no words that will fix it, or make it better, but a gentle presence is reassuring in the darkness.

A good friend will check in and see how you are doing, even when there is nothing new to say.

Sometimes it’s not all going to be fine. And having someone say “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” makes you want to kill them as they inadvertently invalidate your loss.

Sometimes a platitude won’t cut it.

But words of wisdom won’t either.

Sometimes it’s just hard. The only way out is through. And good friend will walk it with you.

That the greatest thing they can do for you is to know they cannot heal it for you, but that you will not face it alone.

I hope you have not just one, but a good strong handful of these people in your life.

Hold onto and treasure those people like gold. 

The post What makes a good friend? appeared first on Louise Thompson, Life Coach, Wellbeing Writer and Speaker.