Life's Puzzle and Friendships

Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It's not something you learn in school.
But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything.
Muhammad Ali

by Skip Cohen

It's not only Hump Day, but the day before Thanksgiving. There was also a beautiful sunrise this morning.  Combined with the season, I was already in an intro and retrospective mood when I ran across the quote above in Lou Mitchell's book, Positive Thinking...One Day at a Time. 

While I'm grateful for the incredible friendships I have all year long, this time of year I tend to think about them far more often and with greater intensity. There's that old line, "It takes a village." My village over the years has been blessed with some incredible people and, in turn, great friendships.

Here's the bottom line to today's short post...I'm so grateful for the friendships I've made in my life and especially over almost 56 years in this industry. Whether casual acquaintances or friends I'd donate a kidney to, it makes no difference... each person has contributed to my life today.

I've used this quote by Alfred Lord Tennyson many times in other posts: "I am a part of all that I have met." Everyone I've met over the years has become a part of me. We're all pieces of everyone's life-puzzle. And like a puzzle, some pieces are bigger than others, but they're all necessary for the complete picture of who we are.

Lou Mitchell went on to write:

Friendship is one of life's greatest mysteries, a bond that defies simple explanations. It's not taught in textbooks or classrooms but learned through shared experiences, trust, and mutual respect. Understanding the true meaning of friendship is essential because it forms the foundation of our emotional and social well-being. It teaches us empathy, loyalty, and love.

Wishing everybody a terrific Thanksgiving. If you're traveling, be safe and patient. Take the time to join me and think about all the friends in your life and how they've had an impact. Then, think about how you can remind them of the role they've played in your life.
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Happy Hump Day...and Thanksgiving too!

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘
What! You too? I thought I was the only one.
​C.S. Lewis