{"id":354,"date":"2011-01-31T15:30:33","date_gmt":"2011-01-31T15:30:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/inspirationreport\/2011\/01\/further-thoughts-on-friendship.html"},"modified":"2011-03-22T22:37:20","modified_gmt":"2011-03-22T22:37:20","slug":"further-thoughts-on-friendship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inspirationreport\/2011\/01\/further-thoughts-on-friendship.html","title":{"rendered":"Further Thoughts on Friendship"},"content":{"rendered":"

The response to last week’s blog on Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King<\/a> almost made me cry (see the comments<\/a>). It’s so sweet to see so many people with precious, decade-spanning relationships.<\/p>\n

I’ve been thinking a lot about friendships since I wrote that last blog. You see, good friends set the bar for how we should treat one another and what defines a healthy relationship.<\/p>\n

Good friends don’t tear you down; they lift you up. They are not a burden. Even through the toughest of times, it is a labor of love.<\/p>\n

A good friendship doesn’t make one person a door mat or another person a savior. Instead, they foster strength and stability for both parties involved.<\/p>\n

After hanging out with a good friend, you aren’t emotionally drained and tired. If anything, you feel energized, like you can take on the world.<\/p>\n

These are just thoughts. I know for myself with my true friends, I don’t feel tense or ill at ease. I soak up every second of our time together and look forward to seeing them again. And oh yes, there is laughter – I mean the real stuff that throws your head back and comes deep from the belly and the heart.<\/p>\n

Recognizing true friends in your life can bring to light the ones that aren’t so true. I hope you take some time to evaluate your friendships today. Embrace the ones that are life-affirming. Life’s too short for anything less.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The response to last week’s blog on Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King almost made me cry (see the comments). It’s so sweet to see so many people with precious, decade-spanning relationships. I’ve been thinking a lot about friendships since I wrote that last blog. 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