Life and Letters

As Valentine's Day descends upon us in an hour in the UK, I cant' help but wonder why we only really celebrate love or friendship one day each year when its something that is so natural among family, friends, couples etc..

Love is something that not only exists between couples or within family. Between friends, there can be a different sort of love.. the kind of love which makes us look out and care for each other which makes the friendship a very deep one.

To me, Love is...
- a friend/ partner being there to clear up the mess when you throw up after a bout of weird tummy bugs - not just holding a bucket out for you to puke into, but helping to hold back your hair and not minding puke ending up on his/her clothes etc.

- a friend who listened to you when you ranted on about how you just couldn't deal with your parents/ colleagues

- telling a friend point blank that its evident he's putting on a facade on enjoying his life but its evident to you that he's hating it.

- a friend who helped you pack up for university and just silently hugged you at the airport as you looked through blurry eyes at so many years of memories you were leaving behind, and finally on those last days of childhood, went out of their way to give you reassurance that you would make it in university as well as you had these past 18 years, and most importantly
sent you off to college knowing you were loved

- still the person who gives you the better of the two choices, holds your hand when you're scared, helps you fight off those who try to take advantage of you, thinks of you at times when you are not there, reminds you of what you have forgotten, helps you put the past behind you but understands when you need to hold on to it a little longer, stays with you so that you have confidence, goes out of their way to make time for you, helps you clear up your mistakes, helps you deal with pressure from others, smiles for you when they are sad and helps you become a better person.

-a good friend who was the person who was crying on the inside but managed the biggest smile one could give as they congratulated you for your excellent results.

A friend now is someone you love. Not that you are "in love" with them, but
you care about them and you think about them when they are not there. The
people you are reminded of when you see something they might like, and you
know this because you know them so well. They are the people whose pictures
you have and whose faces are in your head regardless. They are the people
you feel safe around because you know they care about you. They call just to
see how you are doing, because a friend doesn't need an excuse. They tell
you the truth, the first time, and you do the same. You know that if you
have a problem, they are there to listen. They are the people who won't
laugh at you or hurt you, and if they do hurt you they try hard to make it
up to you.

They are the people you love, regardless of whether you realize it. They are
the people you cried with during the last song at the prom and at
graduation. They are the people that when you hug them, you don't think
about how long to hug and who's going to be the first one to let go.

Maybe they are the people that hold the rings at your wedding, or maybe they are
the people who give you away at your wedding, or maybe they are the people
you marry. Maybe they are the people who cry at your wedding because they
are happy or because they are proud.

They are the people who stop you from making mistakes and help you when you do. They are are the people whose hand you can hold, or you can hug or give them a kiss and not have it be awkward because they understand the things you do and they love you for them. They
stick with you and stand by you. They hold your hand. They watch you live and you watch them live and you learn from them. Your life is not the same without them.

I think that everyday should be a celebration of love and friendship.. It shouldn't just be confined to one day of the year.

I have friends who I've been throguh lots with.. heartbreaks, disappointment, joyous moments when they attain something they really worked hard for, unexpected turns in their lives, waiting in earnest anticipation for competition/exam results etc...... but it all adds up to one big word called friendship.. and i treasure these moments whether there are tears or smiles... :)