As humans, the majority of us are social in nature and we need interaction with others for various reasons. This is where friends come in, particularly good ones.

Some people have a wide friendship group, while others have smaller cohorts – there is no right or wrong with this, as long as those friends are a good influence.

I am fortunate to have some good friends.

These are my go-to for various issues that may arise or some wise counsel. The friends who tell the truth, and not just what you want to hear, are the best ones. Keep them close.

From my perspective, there are some people you just seem to immediately connect with, while for others, it seems to take time to develop a friendship. Both types may end up being close friends.

It doesn’t matter how long it takes to build the mutual, enduring trust and respect that is a prerequisite for a lasting friendship.

In my younger days, most of my friends came from a similar background and upbringing as me. This is logical, and I think happens a lot in the country in particular – the tyranny of distance may not allow a wide geographical spread of friends. 

As it turns out, some of my closest friends are people I went to school with. We don’t see each other that often these days but the bond is as strong as it ever was.

As I have gotten older, my friends have become more eclectic. They come from different backgrounds with different experiences to me.

As I have become more inquisitive and curious, I have been exposed to different ways of thinking about life generally. Some of these newer friends have added enormous value to my life, and I am grateful for their presence.

I think someone grows and expands as a person if willing to listen to another person’s point of view.

You may agree or disagree, it doesn’t really matter – the main thing is having the ability to be present in the moment and really hear what the other person is saying.

I have been in numerous meetings across the years where people state they are listening to what the other person is saying, but what they are really doing is just formulating their response in their mind, and waiting for a gap in the conversation to blurt it out.

Real growth and understanding comes when egos are left at the door, and people “really” listen. In lots of instances, the perpetrators of the behaviour are blissfully unaware they are even doing it.

Throughout the years, some of my best friends have told me things I don’t want to hear. It was quite uncomfortable at the time. But upon reflection it’s what I needed to hear, and I was ready to listen.

The words of advice were invariably delivered with kindness and compassion, and were done from a place of care and respect.

Good friends are like diamonds, very valuable.