Have you ever been so alone and isolated that you wanted to cry? You do not have to feel the pain of loneliness.

Last week Joe and I bumped up our “fun meters” and optimized our lives by enjoying a visit from our friends, Rick and Bonnie. As we ate, drank, shopped, cheered and shared our lives together, I recalled just how important true friendship is on our journey.

Friendship provides the avenues for the giving and taking in the cycle of life.

We get to practice providing and receiving important life skills of trust, dependability, honesty, loyalty, respect, forgiveness, acceptance, thoughtfulness, and listening.

Besides the obvious fun involved, here are so many other benefits from friendship – emotionally and physically.

Emotionally: we feel connected with a sense of being accepted for who we are. We receive understanding, encouragement, and inspiration. Friendship also helps to prevent loneliness, moving us outside ourselves to consider others’ needs and wants.

Physically: we also experience many health benefits, lowering blood pressure, heart rate, and cholesterol sharing a good laugh. Look at how supporting friendships have aided in breast cancer recovery. Yes, friendships can add years to your life and life to those years!

Friendship can take small moments, a dinner, a golf game, or a vacation and turn them into big moments, creating treasured memories that will bring happiness along the way.

In these days of overbooked calendars, “insta-everything”, and trying to do it all for everyone, don’t neglect to take the time and count the blessings of friendship.

So don’t forget to nurture these relationships. Pick up the phone, mail that card, and reach out to be a friend before the days slip away. There is no need to feel isolated or alone. Friendship is a two-way street.

One of my favorite sayings about friendship: “Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints on your heart.” Eleanor Roosevelt

Take the friendship challenge: Try to leave a footprint of happiness on one person each day this week.

Please share some ideas of what you to nourish and support your friendships.