International Friendship Day - Let's be honest.

Today is International Friendship Day. A day when you can take the time to celebrate your friends and they can celebrate you in return. Absolutely no pressure there then.

Any day of celebration can be a tricky one. Any bright light in someone's life can be a shadow in another. It doesn't mean we shouldn't celebrate the highlights, but I do think we have a responsibility not to always paint everything with a rosy glow.

Like anything worthwhile, friendships are hard.

They can hold you up when you need it the most, but they can also tear at your soft underbelly. They often require work and patience. They can break your heart, just as much as they can help you rebuild it. There's absolutely no shame in going through a tough period of friendship. WE can all feel lonely surrounded by the oldest of friends at certain points in our lives.

No friendship will always be perfect. Friendships have their seasons, like any relationship. Our journeys are inevitably different. We take different paths and we will not always be in the same place, either physically or metaphorically. Sometimes we have to let them go.

If you are struggling with the idea of celebrating friendships today, remember it has rather 'crafty' beginnings - created by the greetings card industry in 1930 thanks to Joyce Hall, founder of Hallmark cards. If you don't feel like celebrating friendships today, don't. You don't have to bring that weight to your door. Be a cynic for a day. Just for the day, mind.

For those who are trying hard because you know it will be worth it in the end, consider that on 27 July 2011 the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly declared 30 July as the "International Day of Friendship." Something important can come from relatively nothing.

As the hashtags fill your social media, don't forget that online friendships, or those via actual pen and paper, can still be real friendships. Be cautious of catfishing, but don't let anyone else demean something that's important to you and brings your heart happiness.

For those grateful, and want to honour that important friend, remember today is just another day and that you can celebrate your friendships any day. Tell them what they mean to you when it occurs to you. In my case that's usually after a glass or two of wine, but the point is that you don't have to wait for the United Nations General Assembly to tell you it's time to do it.

That said, whilst I'm here, let me join in the chorus and wish a "Happy International Day of Friendship" to the people kind enough to offer either a virtual or physical hand and shoulder. Thank you. Even when it comes with hard truths and painful learning, it is always sincerely appreciated.

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The images included in this post were are poems selected to highlight different aspects of friendships and are extracts from My Marks and My Time, compilation e-books by resident poet, #Writingattheendoftheday, which are currently for sale by download at the www.highcroftwriting.com/store

You can also read more daily poetry at https://writingattheendoftheday.blogspot.com/

Please note that the original poems are included below in text version for those who are using a webreader or struggle to view the images provided.

As always, if you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this piece, please consider whether you would benefit from accessing relevant support. See https://helplines.org/helplines

#highcroftwriting #writing #poetry #writinglife #internationalfriendshipday #internationaldayoffriendship #words

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Friends

When filled with joy, you want to share, And revel in the fact that friends are there. Their presence acts as amplification, But in sadness they are also medication. In moments of loneliness, when all is lost, And emotions are covered in a layer of frost. When no one, no one, seems to care. You're al alone, though countless souls are there. Take one step back from all your fears, And through the mist of salted tears, See my hand - reach out and take it. Any problem, we can break it.

Originally posted on Monday, 29 August 2016, Copyright © Writing At The End Of The Day 2016

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Today

Today has me questioning, On what we judge ourselves. Like variant products, On supermarket shelves.

Friends from before, Have little patience and time, For who I've become. And the life that's now mine.

No respect for the choices, The challenges and fear. Why 'she' lives her life, Because of what 'she' holds dear.

Friends from afterwards, Are considerate and kind, Supportive, and caring. To the old me, they're blind.

For what I bring to their life, The person they see, They say they are grateful, And so proud to love me.

There are more from before, And less from the after. The first break my heart, The latter fix it with laughter.

Originally posted on Saturday, 15 October 2016, Copyright © Writing At The End Of The Day 2016

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Epistolary friendships.

I can remember the feelings your letters evoked.

I looked forward to receiving them,

With almost a childlike glee.

Pleasure from knowing that you,

Deliberately took time out from your life,

To explain yourself to me.

You wanted to, because you and to know about me.

Perhaps you had to, because you wanted to know about me.

Reaching out for the hand that was also outstretched.

There was also a level of anxiety.

This was the response to whatever I had written.

Each letter was a reaction to me,

And the real me.

Originally posted Monday, 5 September 2016, Copyright © Writing At The End Of The Day 2016