Are You My Friend?: A gentle guide to becoming the best friend you can be

I've worked in corporate America as an administrative assistant at Chase Bank in New York City and as a police dispatcher for thirty years in Niagara Falls, New York. So, I've lived in the "big city" and what would be seen as a "small city." I've worked with and for a diverse population-rich people, poor people, black people, white people, nice people, not-so-nice people old and young people. What I have come to know is that we all want the same things. We love and want to be loved. Whether it is in a relationship of marriage, family or friends, we want to be loved. And as hard as it is for some people to admit, we want to be liked.

People get married for many different reasons, and family is DNA, but friends are the ones we choose. I consider myself a people-watcher, and I have watched the actions of some and wondered why they chose a particular person to be their friend. I have also watched the actions of friends and can point out why their friendship must be working.

I don't consider myself to be an expert on friendship matters, but I do believe I have insight that I have gained in my over sixty-plus years of living that might be interesting and helpful to some. Though this is an easy read and could be read in one sitting, my suggestion is that you read a chapter at a time. Read it, meditate on it, and take in the affirmations in each chapter. Look at your most precious friendships and see how that particular point is working in your life.

Maybe even read it with your friend or friends and see how they feel you all are doing. Open a dialogue that opens your heart even more.

I hope that you receive something from this guide and hopefully it will help you to grow in your friendship.