Written by : Rtr. Sandali Mendis

A rainy day after a long day of lectures gets just a little better with that shared plate of steaming hot hoppers & sweet plain tea, doesn’t it? Mind you dear reader, the emphasis on the  “shared” part; because imagine the same scenario, but without that friendly, familiar presence besides you to make you laugh, even in the most mundane of moments. Would it feel the same? Because if I were you, I would pick the former over the latter any given day.

Such is the wondrous nature of Friendship. Call it what you may- companionship, alliance, fellowship or camaraderie… don’t you think ultimately, what it boils down to, is love? Because love is the sole reason that makes you choose to stay with this complex human being, while being chosen in return- and that, is the highest form of love there is.

A friend is someone who will choose to see the good in you and guide you towards the better things in life. They will steer you away from situations where you risk making the worst judgment possible, and they’ll help you get through situations where in which you did end up making the worst decision possible. Sure, a bit of (A lot of) nagging, joking & downright scolding will always be a given, but a good friend will always be the one true guardian angel who’ll see you through your darkest days, and will often make you wonder just what you were to do without them.

By now, you may have been reminded of someone, and if you’re lucky, maybe even more than one person. I want you to go back to the first day you met them, and I’m sure, the thought of that memory and the coincidences that led to that moment, will send chills down your spine – for if you hadn’t been 15 mns late that day, or miraculously early the other, you may have missed the chance of meeting that wonderful soul. Since then, the endless laughter, the inside jokes, the shared adventures, the hours spent “spilling tea”, the goofy videos on each other’s phones and countless memories that were made, would never have been made a reality, and would never have been cherished by you and revisited many times over. In times of joy, they would be there to celebrate and cheer for you, and in times of sorrow, they would be a shoulder for you to cry on. As time goes on, they’ll be intertwined in your life in such a way that is similar to how the mightiest of trees is held grounded by its roots during storms that frequent.

Friendship seeps into every corner of our lives, given the fact that we are social creatures. With that being stated, you may have definitely listened to the following song brought to life by the musical legend Bill Withers, and like many, you may have also been one to hum

“Lean on me – When you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend – I’ll help you carry on…

For it won’t be long
‘til I’m gonna need somebody to lean on…”

 while remembering the fond times shared between you and your friends, and at times felt a pang of bittersweet nostalgia looking back on the times when you helped each other climb the steep and slippery steps of life. The tears, the arguments, the disagreements, the petty fights & the misunderstandings- all proving the fact that there is always another side to everything. Proving the fact that darkness coexists with light. And also, surprisingly proving to you that if it’s meant to be, it will all work out in the end. The difficult times will shine a light on the fact that sometimes, that minor key needs to be played with the major key, to create the chords that will harmonize the tune of your life.  

It is often said that friends are the family we choose. Like I mentioned before, choosing to stay with another person when they are down and out, choosing to help them get back up, is an act of immense kindness and bravery. As we all know, love is not for the faint-hearted. Love is empathy, understanding & acceptance- and being vulnerable enough to welcome another soul into your circle and to be able to say “I don’t have friends. I’ve got family” like Dom from F&F, takes guts, and if at anytime you feel like life presents you with an opportunity to do so- take it. For you’ll never know who’ll be the Joey to your Chandler, and grow old with you to be that one cool adult in your life that your kids will look up to. Therefore, on this Friendship Day, remember to always be there for your friends, to take all the chances you get, and to keep them as close to your heart as possible- and if you are still questioning why, dear reader- Do it for the plot!

Graphic Design by: Rtr. Sandali Mendis