Today is my birthday and I have received more well-wishes than I expected. I am seventy-three today. I have friends. In a way, that surprises me.
Thankfully, my wife of 51 years is my best friend. Having a life partner makes life easier for me and for most people I know. There are some who make me wonder how they are still together, or who have found safety and peace in retreating into single life. I am blessed with a family that cares for me and accepts me as a unique individual. And, I am blessed with others in my face-to-face life who are friends. And then there are those who became and remain friends from the world of social media.
It does seem that as I get older, the circle of friends shrinks. Aging has this tipping point when it comes to the body. There is no escaping having your body betray you in quite a number of ways. To keep one’s sanity, it becomes necessary to accept the reality of a body that defies all the “rules” of what is beautiful. If one accepts that reality and then looks at oneself with a set of eyes that realise beauty is beneath the skin, not the skin. Body acceptance is part of the answer. Self-acceptance is the key. And these allow one to be a real friend to others.
I wish each of you that reads this comes to know that your best friend is yourself.