Friendship is one of life’s greatest joys. Friends can help you celebrate victories and mourn losses. Friends can ease loneliness and help you to define yourself. In order to have true friends in your life, you must be a good friend first. That means accepting people for who they are, not who you want them to be. True friendship requires that both parties sometimes have to put their own needs on hold to help the other person. Being a friend is the only way to draw friends into your life.

If your life is filled with acquaintances, but few friends, ask yourself if you are a true friend. Do you accept people’s faults, shortcomings, and limitations? Do you give of yourself when others are in need? Without these qualities it will be impossible to cultivate long lasting, true friendship. Without a willingness to extend yourself in friendship, you may never feel the security and happiness of having friends.

Now, think about someone you know that you would like to spend more time with, or that you would like to know more about. How could you deepen your connection to this person? Perhaps you could invite them to lunch? Offer to help them with a small task or job? Maybe you could simply call them and strike up a conversation. Then, extend yourself in friendship. While this may not work every time, think of the benefits you will reap if just one phone call or helping hand develops into a friendship! Decide to become a friend today!