Yesterday I met up with one of my longest-term friends.
This friend and I went to high school and college together, and she has remained one of my closest friends over the past 30 years.
We live in different states and often have conflicting schedules, which means we don’t get to see each other much. She is one of the few friends I can have a long phone conversation with, but even phone calls prove elusive with our schedules.
So when we got a rare opportunity to meet up in New York, I jumped at it.
Although we communicate by text, voice text, and phone calls, neither of us could remember offhand the last time we had seen each other in person. I had to look it up in my journal to see that it was October 2018 — what feels like a lifetime ago.
And yet, when she found me in Union Square and we hugged, it was like no time had passed. We slipped right into conversation as if it had merely been a few weeks.
With a friend like this, time seems to evaporate, on both ends. Our 4 hours together flew by. But it left me invigorated, optimistic, and full of gratitude.
By the time we parted ways, a warm, sunny day had suddenly turned cold. As she headed to the airport and I headed to the train, a light rain started to fall.
Usually, this type of weather — and the abrupt change — would make me miserable. Yet I hardly noticed.
I was still riding high on the euphoria of friendship.
It’s no overstatement to say that the time with my friend was medicine.
There is something special about the type of friendship where you know someone so well that years without in-person connection fades away the instant you are together.
The ease of conversation that picks up as if you’ve been keeping up with the story for months, even if you’re just jumping in.
The safety of knowing you can be fully yourself, without masking your challenges or pretending to be ok when you’re not.
A friend who has known you for so many years, who can remind you of all you’ve done and who you are, and who sees your brilliance without saddling you with the weight of expectations is a gift.
It’s rare to have people in your life who have seen you at your worst, lowest points and can still help you connect to your highest moments. No therapist or coach has that depth of “institutional knowledge.”
Many studies show that maintaining long-term friendships support longevity, as well as overall health and well-being.
The type of unconditional love and support that a long-term friend offers creates a foundation for healing.
It is medicine for the soul and spirit.
If you have even one friend like this, you are blessed.
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