Investing in FRIENDS

Someone once said "Keep your friends close to you and your enemies closer." Sounds like a line from the Godfather movies or something similar. For most of us, I think keeping your friends very close and investing time and energy in the friendships you value most is the better course of action.

Many of us, myself included, use the words "my friend" too loosely. A friend is a very special person. If you are fortunate to have even one true friend you are very rich. I had many more friends when I was in grammar school than I had in High School & University and even fewer as a young man in my first years in the business world. Now that I am much older and hopefully wiser, I have fewer still. The reason is that I am much more discriminating about whom I call a friend. For me, a friendship is a mutual bond not of blood but of spirit and heart which is strong and powerful, transcending all boundaries and surviving all tests of loyalty, trust and much much more.

My best friend of all time is my wife. Looking back now through the years, I can count less than 10 true friends that I have had aside from my bride who is the love of my life. Interestingly, aside from my mom who probably shouldn't be counted because she was my mom, all my "friends" have been men. Two or three were actually boys who grew to be men as we grew older together. They have very little in common other than they are all connected to me. I love them, not equally but each one specially. They are a part of who I was and who I am. Without them I would be a stranger to myself. All my experience are intertwined with these friends.

My regret is that I could have and should have done more to be a friend to them. They have given me so much more than I have given them. I should have invested more time and energy into my friendships because the dividends have been great...greater than any other investment that I have ever made.

They say that you cannot buy true love. That goes for true friendship too. Bernie and Stanley, I love you guys, wherever you may be. Herb, Mike and Jack thanks! Whitey-you saved my life! G.Z. if you are reading this...thousands of miles of separation are no excuse...hug.