Aristotle had it right

Define friend....

So many ways to explain what a friend is but I still think Aristotle had it right on the git go.

Aristotle's definition: A true friend is one soul in two bodies.

And in this case I struck gold! I am truly blessed.

 

Up until I read this quote, I always struggled with the definition of friend. So many people interpret the word friend in so many ways. 

My definition of a friend has always been someone who:

 

- answers the phone whatever the time may be and is prepared to listen.

- will laugh and cry with you. 
- will always believe in you, even when you don't believe in yourself.
- will always bring out the best in you.
- will always be honest, even if it hurts.
- will not need an explanation as he/she will always understand.
- is willing to share their time with you.
- accepts you as you are.
- is willing to reach out to you, instead of you always having to do the reaching out.
- will not judge you.

I like how Wikipedia defines friend.

Soulmate: the name given to someone who is considered the ultimate, true, and eternal half of the other's soul, in which the two are now and forever meant to be together.

Spiritual friendship: the Buddhist ideal of kalyana-mitra, that is a relationship between friends with a common interest, though one person may have more knowledge and experience than the other. The relationship is the responsibility of both friends and both bring something to it.

Some would say many more things quantify friendship, but I still say Aristotle had it right. 

To realise the value...

To realize
The value of a sister/brother
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.

To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.

To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.

To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam.

To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.

To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
Who has given birth to a premature  baby..

To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed  the train, bus or plane.

To realize
The value of one-second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.

Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.

You will treasure it even more when
You can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or family member:
LOSE ONE.

Remember....

Hold on tight to the ones you love!

How I love Mondays!

Monday for me has become a very special day. It's the day that my bestest friend in the world comes to Hamilton and we spend an hour and sometimes a bit longer together! We usually have a quick bite at Timmy's while we show what we've  been working on to each other, be it hat, scarf, sweater, socks, blankets. There's always something new or sometimes we bounce ideas off each other for a solution to a kink in the current project or sometimes a future project. We enable each other wonderfully!

We are so in sync with each other that we even answer questions before they are asked or send something via email to the other that was needed without being asked. We are coming up to the anniversary of our first official meeting. I say official since we'd said hello a few times in the past when I used to work for one of the companies leasing office space in the building up to 2007. But only last year did it finally click so to speak and knitting did it. 

So, this past Monday, we were going to have a quick bite at Timmy's but instead we, on the spur of the moment, (how gemini of us!) decided to go to Len's Mills. I'd never been so wasn't entirely sure what I was walking into but I discovered very quickly that it was the perfect spot to be! Picture a warehouse crammed to the ceiling with tons of crafty items, what a place to be inspired! I needed some green yarn to continue working on the two blankets for the twins and having checked the nearby store (Hart) and discovering they had nada for green yarn, my dearest friend offered to go to Michael's, but since we'd been last year, and the selection wasn't as enticing as I'd thought it would be, I suggested Len's Mills and off we went! 

We got our yarn fix LOL I walked out with 4 balls of Patons Astra yarn in 2 shades of green and my dear sweet sister walked out with a few patterns since she kept muttering to herself, "No, no yarn today" while we walked through the aisles, fondling and petting the various yarns on display, picking up copies of the free patterns hanging everywhere and commenting on various yarns, how well they worked or didn't work. Even discovered I'd been crocheting with an Alpaca blend and joy, I still have several balls of it left, so I just may end up making something for me! ...I'm thinking a cowl with a matching hat, maybe some wristers, since all this yummy softness would be awesome against my face next winter. Being a shade of dark cherry ice creamy blend, it really appeals to me.

Mondays for me are the cream in my coffee and when life prevents us from meeting up on that day, the week just doesn't feel the same... like something is missing. I never thought I'd admit that I have become a creature of habit, especially when it comes to my dear sweet friend, my sister soul.

A hug for a friend

I have a friend who has been there for me through thick and thin. She would say the same for me, so I guess that's what is known as true friendship. We have never met face to face but feel as if we've known each other for years. We've both been through some pretty tough life changing events in our lives and we've always supported each other through it all. One day I hope to meet this sister, this friend, because I would wrap my arms around her and give her the biggest hug she's ever received.

Since I can't do that, I'm going to send her a hug. I have found the perfect knitting pattern for a shawlette I know she will love and wear. It's called the Summer Lace Shawlette developed by Sandi Wiseheart of Interweave Knits. The pattern can be found on Knitting Daily in the free patterns section. I always loved the look of this short shawl and can just imagine my dear friend wearing it like I was giving her a big hug.


The pictures are just a teaser. The one shows the back which is nice and airy and the other shows some swatches of the back and front. I still have to determine what color I will make it in, but I have a feeling it will be in something vibrant since she is a lady filled with energy, love, compassion and caring with a heart as big as Chicago. I will post more as I progress.