If we are fortunate enough, and live long enough, we encounter, and perhaps befriend many good people during the course of our lives.  Not everyone is a “people person,” as I am, so this may not seem to be a message for everyone. But, there are many ways to be a friend to another person.

Consider giving anonymously to a cause that helps people.  This is being a friend to someone or many someones, albeit a distant one.  But friendship comes in many different ways to people. Mostly, we think of very close relationships with regard to friendship.  However, there are always degrees of any relationship.

To me, the first actions of friendship can start very small.  Even just sitting close by when a person is in distress, is an act of friendship.  This can happen anywhere.  Perhaps it could take place in a waiting room or some other place where people are gathered to wait.  Maybe, what I am really saying is that acting like a friend would do in a situation, is a possible beginning of a relationship.  And isn’t that the way things often happen?

Kindness and friendship go hand in hand.  Therefore, showing kindness can be an act of friendship. Being a kind person is something for all of us to aspire to.  It makes the world a better place to live.

Being a friend to someone can start just by acting kindly or helpful to another person.  One conversation can start it all.  Maybe you will have something in common with that other person. And so it begins.  Even just making acquaintances can lead to a deeper relationship with time.  And every time we do this, there is an opportunity to grow.

I like to think that if we were to be more open to these possibilities as they present themselves, the occasions for friendship to flourish would blossom and grow.  Opportunities abound when one has an open mind and an open heart.

So let us be kind and look for ways to incorporate kindness to others into our daily lives. Then, being a friend to someone will become a natural thing to do.