Terri Guillemets, anthologist and creator of the online anthology of quotes, The Quote Garden, said, “If I had to sum up Friendship in one word, it would be Comfort.”

Last night, I took great comfort in being able to celebrate the birthdays of two very dear friends. Charles, my partner, and I cooked up a special dinner of things we knew to be their favourites, and spent the evening sharing a meal, and wine and laughter and stories with their daughter along with Charles’ daughter and mine to say, “You are both amazing human beings. Thank you for your friendship.”

It struck me that friends, like family, are the real treasures of this world. That to be a good friend, I must consciously do the things that tell my friends (and family) how much I care. It is not always something I do. I can be forgetful. Disorganized. Distracted. I can forget birthdays, or get the date wrong — I did that this week with my friend BA whose birthday I am sure is actually January 21 when it’s really the 11th. Sometimes, I don’t take the time to write  a note, make a phone call, send an email to my friends to tell them how much they mean to me, or simply to say hello. I am not always a good friend.

It’s a good realization for me on this the 17th day of A Year of Making a Difference  — To be a good friend I must take time to express my appreciation of my friends.

I have an online friend, Kathleen O who is one of the most remarkable, ‘I’m thinking of you’ people I know. She is always sending out little handmade notes and cards that arrive in people’s mailboxes unexpectedly. This Christmas, for the second year in a row, Diane W. sent one of her amazing calendars and Joyce W sent along a beautiful hand crafted card of her flower goddesses. It is these unexpected treasures that remind me that I am surrounded by amazing friends.

To make a difference in their lives, I must be conscious of the things I do that express my gratitude and joy in their friendship. I must be conscious of how I say, Thank you for being my friend. Thank you for being in my life. Your friendship makes a difference in my world. You make a difference to me.