I think I’ve mentioned this before, but one of my Mom’s favorite mantras when I was growing up was “you have to be a friend to have friends”. At the time, I found it annoying. I had plenty of friends, thankyouverymuch! But, in hindsight (funny how it’s always 20/20), I know that I had those friends BECAUSE she showed me how to keep them.

Throughout high school and college, I collected a menagerie of different friends. I never really had one “group”; rather, I had a bunch of good friends who didn’t necessarily know each other very well, if at all. I love all of my friends and wouldn’t trade them for the world, but it certainly makes it more difficult to keep up with everyone since we don’t have big group reunions!

Last year, I was lucky in that many of my good friends still lived in Nashville with me. But this year, I won’t have that luxury. So for July, I want to focus on “being a friend” – both to my old friends, who are far away, and to my (hopeful) new Louisville friends.

Making new friends, or talking to old ones on the phone, isn’t always easy for my introverted self. This month will definitely be a challenge! But I feel blessed with the numerous wonderful friends that I have acquired over the years. I want to make this month about cherishing those friendships, and about hopefully making some new ones too.

Here’s to being a friend!