Friendship - The Gift Of Each Other
by Tony Brady
The world is said to be suffering from an epidemic of loneliness This is happening on a planet which has never been more interconnected. Therefore It is very important that each of us value and cultivate real friendships and connection. For each of our sakes and for the benefit of society in general it is important that we work to create a world where there is more interconnection and less isolation. Photo: getty-images-unsplash. Music: Meet Your Soul by Narek Mirzaei of Music of Wisdom
Transcript
Dear friends,
There is much talk these days of loneliness.
The world is said to be suffering from an epidemic of loneliness,
To the point where some governments are creating ministries whose purpose is to try to deal with this problem.
So here we have a reflection or a meditation on the subject of friendship.
So before we begin to consider this question,
Can we take a few moments to just come into the present.
You might like to close your eyes and take a few deep breaths in.
And as you breathe out,
Just express thanks for the people in your life who are your friends.
And express hope for the people in your life who might become your friends.
With the benefit of some of the things that we're going to discuss in this meditation.
So breathing in and breathing out mindfully for just a minute.
The strange thing is that on a planet which has never been more interconnected,
We find loneliness statistics which are troubling to read.
A 2021 survey across 142 countries,
Found that approximately 24% of individuals aged 15 and older,
Reported feeling very or fairly lonely.
In the US,
52% of people experience loneliness,
With young adults aged 18 to 24 being the loneliest age group.
These are worrying statistics,
Especially when you consider that the mortality risk associated with loneliness and social isolation,
Is said to be comparable to well established risk factors such as smoking and obesity.
It is very important that we value and cultivate friendships and connection.
But this is not going to happen unless we each take action.
We can't expect someone to come knocking at our door,
Asking us if we would like to be a friend.
But for each of our sakes,
And for the benefit of society in general,
It is important that we work to create a world where there is much more interconnection and less isolation.
Let's have a one minute pause for reflection now.
During this time you might think of how you can help create a friendlier community in your own area of influence.
Welcome back.
I'd be very interested to hear in the comments,
Your thoughts as to the steps you feel you might take,
To bring more friendliness and connection into the world.
We'll all benefit by hearing what you have to say.
But meanwhile,
Here are some ideas to help set your thinking.
Let each of us reach out to others.
Try to initiate closer connections with neighbours,
With co-workers or acquaintances,
By starting conversations or inviting people to spend time together.
We can all be reluctant to move out of our shells.
Why not overcome reluctance and join a group or a club,
Which will allow you to participate in activities that correspond with your interests,
And let's not confine ourselves to existing interests,
But think of something new that you might like to take up.
Let's see if we can break out of the rut and till some new ground.
As we all know,
Life can get in the way of friendship.
Pressures of work and family can leave people out of touch with friends whom they were closely connected with in earlier years.
Maybe this meditation will encourage you to reconnect with some old friends.
Why not make time to reach out to your friends from the past,
Rekindling relationships that may have faded on both sides,
Due to time or distance or the pressures of day-to-day life.
In our always-connected world,
We can get lost in our screens.
It can be wonderful to make contact with people online,
Especially if they are far away and impossible to meet in person.
Many of us are in the happy position of having friends online whom we have never actually met in person.
But why not consider the idea of limiting social contact and prioritising and making time for face-to-face interactions.
It is possible to share a virtual cup of coffee on Zoom.
But how much better to meet face-to-face where there is that possibility?
Remember too that friendships can come about through volunteering in the community.
Volunteering offers opportunities to meet people who share a common interest,
As you all contribute your time and energy to a worthwhile cause.
Friendships require work,
Even though friendships are enjoyable.
In order to have a friend,
A real friend,
Each of us has to be a real friend to the other person.
And we must be grateful for the friendships which we have already,
And always remember to make time for the people in our lives.
Let's have another pause for reflection now.
And after this pause,
I will bring this meditation to an end by sharing some quotes on the subject of friendship.
William Shakespeare tells us,
A friend is one that knows you as you are,
Understands where you have been,
Accepts what you have become,
And still gently allows you to grow.
And from St Thomas Aquinas,
We have these words,
There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.
I'm sure you will have come across On Friendship by Khalil Gibran.
And a youth said,
Speak to us of friendship.
And he answered,
Saying,
Your friend is your needs answered.
He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.
And he is your board and your farsight.
For you come to him with your hunger and you seek him for peace.
When your friend speaks his mind,
You fear not the nay in your own mind,
Nor do you withhold the ay.
And when he is silent,
Your heart ceases not to listen to his heart.
For without words in friendship,
All thoughts,
All desires,
All expectations are born and shared with joy that is unacclaimed.
When you part from your friend,
You grieve not.
For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence,
As the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.
And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.
For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of its own mystery is not love,
But a net cast forth,
And only the unprofitable is caught.
And let your best be for your friend.
If he must know the ebb of your tide,
Let him know its flood also.
For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?
Seek him always with hours to live.
For it is his to fill your need,
But not your emptiness.
And in the sweetness of friendship,
Let there be laughter and sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew of little things,
The heart finds its morning and is refreshed.
On Friendship by Khalil Gibran I hope you found some benefit in this meditation.
Don't forget to share your own thoughts in the comments so that other listeners can be brought into this same conversation.
Let's conclude with a short prayer.
May you be blessed with friends who walk beside you in times of joy and sorrow.
Friends who speak truth to you with kindness and listen to you with an open heart.
May you in turn be a friend and a blessing.
A friend who embodies patience,
Compassion and kindness.
A friend who speaks to you of the glass half full.
A friend who uplifts you with words of encouragement.
A friend who reaches out to catch you if you stumble or fall.
Namaste
4.9 (109)
Recent Reviews
Leslie
February 8, 2026
Such a timely and important message - and call to action. We each have it within our power to do what you are suggesting, Yomy - and it will make life and community so much richer. Thank you!
🌻Sarb🌻.
January 26, 2026
Thank you for your words about friendship. My approach to friendship starts with myself and my children, my family, my friends extending to the people I work with, where I do yoga and humanity with a smile or words of commonality standing in a grocery store line where the mood maybe inviting. I am myself, I am authentic which is the role I know very well. I give warmth and calm like I breathe, walk and talk. Your words inspired me as to where cultivation is needed in my current friendships. Thank you thank you thank you.
Lisa
February 21, 2025
Lots to take in, can listen many times and find something new
Maggie
February 4, 2025
It’s not surprising that this topic has evoked deep personal responses about friendship and loneliness. We have all discovered that this digital world has completely transformed our social interactions…from fear of face to face contact to deep political divisions, we set ourselves up for disappointment and failure. Surprisingly and sadly, we see that there is hope in examples of people coming together in times of need and disasters. 🙏🏻
Kelli
January 30, 2025
Impactful reflection and disturbing albeit noted data on loneliness in our world. Online presence has its place. In person friendship as well. Both of which require our time and energy, How may we offer ourselves in both of these ways to produce the overall healthiest benefit for ourselves and others? Balance. Examining our day in a mindful way offers the clues to our needs, wants, desires, and offers solutions. Admitting we are lonely in order to bring resolution to that admission is the first step. I did. I came off Social Medis apps with the exception of this one, changing my behavior to first journaling the answers to my needs, and then acting upon them by reaching out to meet in person. Both of these much more easily accessible in childhood due to neighborhood and school and activity accessibility, become so much more difficult once that era ends. Bring that part of childhood back into your adult life, it takes effort, use that energy on you, enjoy you, your passions, interests, and give your life the joy you deserve. First admit you are lonely, first steps in anything are the most difficult, beautiful and valuable! Actions taken to interact in person; Walking to mailbox, introduced myself to new neighbor by complimenting on his football team worn proudly in his jacket. He was happy to return the interaction putting his hand out, telling me when he & his wife moved in and his grandchildren nearby along with an engaging conversation about my being a teacher and his wife a retired one as well. He will go home and tell her there’s another teacher up the street! This will help her settle in as well!! Mentioning she hadn’t left the house since they moved in, I empathized with her wanting to nest and the fierce cold we had been enduring! A neighbor joined and I introduced them to each other! Leaving them in conversation as I continued my walk! 3 people now know each other and have talked in person! Intentional behavior in action! Put your intentions for in person connections out! I found how quickly the universe supports our much needed collective connections! “Connection is the Heartbeat of Humanity.” Kelli Thank you, Tony for this wonder filled reflection. Namaste
Tanusree
January 30, 2025
What a beautiful offering - the thoughts exoressed with so much love and kindness and compassion with beautiful music in the background. I loved it Tony, it brought so much joy and happiness to me. I shall listen to this often to remind me of this precious gift of friendship when caught up with life. They ask for nothing, they see nothing but only you as you as their precious friend. Thank you Tony for creating such a wonderful piece of love. ❤️😍
Bill
January 29, 2025
In our "older" age, we find ourselves no longer with the friends who we grew up with, getting married, having children, and on. That is due to friends moving over the years, and sadly, poor health or death naturally occurs. We realize that any new friends we should make now will never be like ones we had for many years. These people can be very nice, but we have no deep roots with them and can never share old memories, and as we experience now that we're old and the new friends are also old, just as we start really liking the new friends the odds are increasing that one of us is likely to die or become disabled or move away to a retirement home. As we experienced this so often, it makes us think why try to meet new people, because it can often bring sadness as we lose them too soon. We know that the new friends will be more superficial, since we can never develop the memories we have/had with the longtime friends. Sorry to sound so negative but it is something one can't escape in old age.
ANDRE
January 29, 2025
A wonderful moment of appreciating those that support and lift us up....including those that offer their time and help us see all that is good in our lives and worth developing..Thank you.for that time.
Felise
January 28, 2025
Dear Tony 🙏🏼 this is beautiful and beautifully spoken by you. And the quotes and poems are endearing. Grma for the invitation to leave our thoughts and I enjoyed reading others thoughts. 🌿🙏🏼🌿 It is disturbing to hear the % of young people feeling loneliness and it seems to me that Covid and lockdown along with social media has created mental health issues we didn’t have to experience growing up. It is, as you have pointed out our own individual responsibility to be aware of and keep friends close. The high levels of loneliness are an indication of the technological times we live in. People need physical contact. I feel confident people will solve this issue also. Through IT I have met lovely friends online, however being a sensory person I find it difficult to maintain those friendships as I need the eye contact , hugs and face to face communication that ‘live’ friends bring. It is true as you say that we get caught up in ‘life’ and friendships can slip. I experienced this late last year when I reached out to a good friend that I had lost touch with and her response back to me when I suggested by text that we catch up at a cafe was “ I have cancer again and am having chemo “ That was a shock and I realised how easy it is to let friendships slide because ‘life ‘ is being got on with. It also made me realise that maybe I/we need to ‘take a bit off of our too full plate’ Grma for another opportunity to reflect upon an important aspect of our lives. 🌿💚🌿
Ros
January 28, 2025
Beautiful. Lovely to hear the old, familiar Gibran on Friendship again. Thank you.
Inés
January 28, 2025
Very inspiring to expand my experience with friends 🙏🪷
Donna
January 28, 2025
Thank you, Tony, for your thoughtful discussion of the benefits and importance of friendship. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more appreciative of friends and I’ve learned to cultivate friendships better than I did in the past. It’s wonderful to build new friendships, especially with people younger than me—it opens up so many perspectives and ideas I might not otherwise have access to. Building friendships takes effort and some time, but the value is so much greater, and the effort is fun in itself. Thanks again, Tony, and enjoy all the friends you keep! Donna
Barb
January 28, 2025
Beautifully said! These last couple of weeks I have been blessed to have one of my oldest and dearest friends whom I’ve not kept in touch with as much as I should have open her home for my husband and I to stay these last two weeks. On a moments notice she was still there for me. Our time together was so precious and the memories just poured out. I’m making my journey back home and will take today’s message with me. Thanks Tony for always showing up with just what I needed at the perfect time. 🙏🏻💕
Robin
January 28, 2025
Hi Tony. This is such an important topic. Social media has separated us, not connected us and covid changed things as well. I need real time, not screen time with others. People have different definitions of friendship; some take it more seriously than others. I have found it difficult to make friends if there is no context and find suburban life isolating. Perhaps we do better in cities; going to give it a try and feel excited about it. Thanks for letting me share in a safe space 🙏🏻
Senga
January 28, 2025
Dear Tony, thank you for this thought provoking meditation. I was looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. However, had to postpone my group from last week to this week. What was I doing? A friend whom I did my nursing and midwifery training with 62 years ago came to see me from Glasgow, Hadn't seen each other for 30 years! Her husband died last year after many years of ill health. Although I would not have recognised her we had a lovely day even with mixed emotions! Love to you & Fran from rainy and cold Elgin.💕✨️🕊
Adri
January 28, 2025
Thank you, dear Tony, for your wonderful reflections on friendship, which defintely is a core value and need. For me, the starting point of friendship is always to kindly look a person in the eye and subsequently really listen to what he or she says. Online, I am unable to look you in the eye, but I thoroughly enjoy listening to what you have to say and what moves you. Forever grateful. Namaste 🤓🙏🏻