I’ve been thinking about Friendship a lot lately. And the capital “F” is no typo. Maybe I’m too demanding, maybe my standards are too high? Nah – I should be picky, I’m awesome =o)

So what is Friendship? In French and Swedish, there are 2 words for “friends” (Ami, copain / Vän, kompis) but how do you categorize? And right now, I’m talking about “Vänner” and “Amis”, not “kompisar” and “copains” – I have a lot of those here!

A Friend is somebody you can feel free to call to vent or share a happy feeling and they listen. They don’t judge, they don’t give you unwelcome advice, they don’t pretend they know exactly how you feel because they know they don’t; everybody is different. And they don’t make you feel that their problems are bigger than yours. And they don’t make you feel bad for feeling happy when they’re not.

I learned that a Friend is someone I trust to be with me when I am at my weakest and most vulnerable. Friendship is a trust that’s returned. Trust but also support, communication, loyalty, understanding, empathy, and intimacy.

Friendship is something you do; it’s a balanced relationship between people. That doesn’t mean it’s always balanced at every moment. Sometimes you need a Friend and other times it’s the other way. A Friend is extended family.

You go out into the world and do your best. You have your ups and downs, your problems and triumphs, your fun and tribulations. You charm and you perform.

Then you come “home” to a Friend. You can relax and put your feet up.

That’s what a Friendship is to me. Love with a big “L”.