True friends are great riches.
~Unknown
Insight and wisdom often arrive when we least expect them. Chance encounters, casual conversations, or even words in passing may hold significance when we hear true words. Friends who know us best often bear that wisdom and have an uncanny way of telling us exactly what we need to hear and the moment we need it most.
Speaking with a friend, she told a story of a waiter who once worked at the restaurant she frequented, and it closed. She discovered another restaurant with the same cuisine and found the same waiter who worked there. She asked him if the food was as good as the other place. His response was, Better or worse; it doesn’t matter; it’s what one is used to that matters.
A professional in my field recounted a situation many years prior where he lost his passion for his job, even though he was successful and at the top of his game. His wife felt his dissatisfaction and suggested he return to the beginning, where he found his passion for art in college. This sparked a renewed interest and love for what had become drudgery.
While having lunch with my mother, she listened to me complaining about how my dogs always pushed me over in bed, giving me, if I was lucky, 8 inches to sleep on. She asked, as a matter of fact, why don’t you start in the middle?
The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the ‘Peanuts’ comic strip.
You don’t have to answer the questions. Just ponder them. Read it straight through, and you’ll get the point.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies, awards tarnish, achievements are forgotten, and Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Easier?
The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not those with the most credentials, money … or awards. They are the ones who care the most.
Our inner knowing feels safe and at ease when we hear the truth. Truth doesn’t change. To have friends so dear to us who are not hindered from speaking frankly, kindly, and from their hearts, we know they are the ones who genuinely care.
Life is short; reach out to those who have made a difference, be kind to those who cross your path, and be open to the wisdom that comes in the most unexpected package. Often, the words we need to hear are those we did not expect.
Friends are those who don’t see each other for months or years but still have a connection.~ Gina Newton
