The True Value of Friendships

Time and good friends are two things that become more valuable the older you get.
Unknown Author

by Skip Cohen

​It's Sunday morning, and as usual, I'm a long way from writing about business and marketing. But not far away from something we too often take for granted - great friends.

For the third time since we moved to the Sarasota area in 2011, a hurricane rolled through the area this past week. Irma was our first, followed by Ian and then Idalia this week. All were at the same time of year, confirming that it's hurricane season.

But I'm not writing about the weather, but the outpouring of support and prayers from friends, mainly through social media. We're a remarkable industry, and while I've been accused of being sappy and hokey over the years, it really is a family. We watch each other's backs, and whether it's storms, fires, floods, or something more personal - social media keeps us connected.

Last night, Sheila and I were watching a movie. It was around 8:00 PM, and my office phone rang. I rarely answer it on the weekend, but it was from a good buddy, and it was instinct to think something was wrong. We hit the pause button on the movie, and I called him back. 

Nothing was wrong - he just hadn't caught up to me and wanted to see if everything was okay. The night before, I had another call from a friend out west doing a similar check. And I still have a call to return that's on my cellphone. Each one of these calls has been from a friend who simply wanted to check on Sheila, me, and the pups.​

Good friends help you find important things when you have lost them...
things like your smile, your hope and your courage.
Doe Zantamata

There's my point - nothing beats great friendships. There's the indescribable rush as you appreciate knowing friends are keeping an eye out for you. It doesn't matter how they let you know, just that you know they're out there. My appreciation for so many of you is simply beyond measure.

Wishing everybody a calm day and a great holiday weekend if you're in the US. When we lived up north, Labor Day was always the last excuse for a summer barbecue. Now the grill is on all year long. Regardless of where you are on the planet, the day can only be as great as you choose to make it. Always go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I write about, and while you're there, don't forget to tell the recipient of the hug how important they are in your life.

Happy Sunday...or Monday if you're on the other side of the world.

PS. About today's photo* - the morning after Idalia, I wanted to see what was happening at the beach. Nokomis Beach is less than a mile away. Between the wind and the roar of the ocean, the sound was deafening. I cracked up over this grab-shot of a Dad with his daughters, and he's on his phone. However, I'm hoping he was just grabbing a picture and not checking his email!

*LUMIX G9 with LUMIX G Vario 14-140mm lens:  f5.6 @ 1/640 ISO 200 at 140mm