Women, Friends and Friendship: Are you Still Looking for a BFF (Best Friend Forever)?

Are you one of those women who seem to always keep friends and always have them around to call on? I'm not.

I can make friends easily, easier than I think it should be. But, I never seem to keep friends. I don't chase them away. I just lose track of them or they kind of drift away until one day I realize I haven't heard from them in awhile.

I don't know what it is about me that causes this. When I am out with a friend we have a lot of laughs or we can talk about anything. I've always been a great listener and I'm not very judgmental. It must be a lack of energy on my part. I'm quite happy being alone and living with my own silence for days at a time.

Some of us, just aren't the friendship types.

But having a friend is nice. I can think of so many I have had over my life. Some were truly great friends who are still missed. Some were friends of the moment, co-workers mainly. I still have two friends I can track down these days, Deanna and Terry-Lynn.

Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things. - Unknown

Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light. - Helen Keller

I think it's nice to have lots of friends. But it must be time and energy consuming to keep up with everyone. The glossy magazines present us a lifestyle where women always have friends (and time to shop). Somehow those women are always slim and trim too and they seem to have lots of great clothes to wear on their slim and trim bodies. I'm not one of the glossy magazine women.

A very long time ago I tried to start socializing with other women online. It never went far. I'm just not the type to put the energy into something that would need a lot of social energy to get off the ground. Luckily, others have taken up the project on their own. You can find social networks online for women.

I'm sure there must even be social misfit/ hermit type women who get together for an online social tea or something. I'd like to find them. But, we are probably hard to track down and far too quiet to keep in touch.

But, if you want them, they are out there. Like a real friend... lurking.

It's getting harder to find time and energy to connect with other women these days. We have our own lives, our own projects and still have to get laundry done, pay the bills and find ourselves taking the odd nap. But, there is a real need for women to connect. I think, it's part of who we are and what makes us great.

A friend drops her plans when you're in trouble, shares joy in your accomplishments, feels sad when you're in pain.

A friend encourages your dreams and offers advice - but when you don't follow it, she still respects and loves you.

Doris Wild Helmering