Labour Day, Friendship Needs remembering Too

As you celebrate Labour Day, think about the fact it wa planned, it was just did not happen, it was put into the calendar so we would remember, so people could plan events and celebrations, and we did. Think about your old friendships they need to be maintained. 

Cars need tune-ups.

Homes need repairs.

Even dentures occasionally need adjusting.

Friendships need maintenance as well.

A friendship doesn't fade because people stop caring. It usually fades because everyone assumes there will always be another tomorrow.

Sometimes there isn't.

Schedule one regular call each month with an old friend.

Put it on your calendar just like a doctor's appointment. Consistency keeps friendships alive long after busy schedules disappear.

Don't Wait for a Funeral

Too often we tell people how much they meant to us after they're gone.

Wouldn't it be nicer if they heard it while they were still around to laugh, smile, or tease us about getting sentimental?

Friendships deserve celebrating before the memorial service.

Tell one old friend exactly why you appreciate them.

Not because it's their birthday.

Not because they're ill.

Just because today seemed like a good day. Kind words are far more meaningful when the person can hear them.

Tell the Story Before It's Forgotten

Every old friendship is really a collection of stories.

The fishing trip where nobody caught a fish.

The vacation where everyone got lost.

The birthday party nobody expected to survive.

Those stories become treasures after someone is gone.

If we don't tell them, they disappear.

Write down one favourite memory of a lifelong friend. Better yet, share it with someone else who knew them. Stories keep people alive in our hearts and help future generations understand where they came from.

Grief Doesn't Always Belong to Family

 When someone dies, we often think first of spouses and children. But lifelong friends grieve too.

Old friends hold pieces of our history. They remember the stories no one else knows, the camping disasters, the first jobs, the impossible bosses, the practical jokes, and the dreams that never quite happened.

When one friend dies, a chapter of your own life quietly closes.

It's okay to feel that loss.

And yes, it's okay if you cry...just remember to blame it on chopping onions if someone asks.

Reach out to a mutual friend and simply ask,

"How are you doing after hearing the news?"

Then listen. Sometimes people don't need advice. They just need someone who remembers the same person they do.