My last blog before Christmas and I'm pondering the real value of the season amidst the inevitable commercialism, shopping for presents, Military Wives Choir v X-Factor battle for number one and the office party (avoid calling me on Friday morning please).Off to London tonight to meet up with my oldest (most long-standing, not necessarily in age) friends, my gang of five aka 'The Famous Five'. Although tonight we're one down so it's just 'Four go mad in the West End'. It's got me thinking about the power of true friendship and what really matters in life.
We've known each other since we were eleven years old and joined the same girls school (thrown together and united against the veiled bitchiness of those 'gels' who joined the school years before). We've been there for each other ever since - through the highs and inevitable lows that a lifetime chucks at you. Marriage; first, second and even third born children (yes, some of us were less than careful); divorce; sickness and health and death; business success, business difficulties; professional success and personal fulfilment; empty nests, pride and sometimes fear for our children. We don't see each other all the time but I can guarantee that when we do get together we all go away recharged, revived and inspired.
Thinking about friendship, the miriad of 'friends', Facebook or otherwise, we gather at each stage of our lives, some of those friends are friends because of a shared, common experience but once that's gone the friendship can wane, it's transient. True friendship is grounded in something so much deeper. From each stage of our lives, personal and professional, we retain a small number of friends who will be with us for life. My 'Famous Five' go back a long way and the power of their friendship is a true inspiration and support to me.
Merry Christmas everyone - and as you enjoy Christmas with your families remember that we don't choose our relatives but we do choose our friends!
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