HAVE you ever wondered about how important friends are in your life?

I have just spent an amazing weekend with great friends and it was exactly what the doctor ordered. Sometimes during our lifetime we all need our friends more than ever and true friendship will always help us get through some hard times.

I am blessed to have such wonderful support from friends and it something that I really cherish. There is an old saying that friendship should never be hard work and this is something I firmly believe.

Absolutely, I understand that friendships change and mature the older that we get. I have lived in Tralee now for over eight years and I have made some strong bonds of friendship and I know that they will last a lifetime.

I am also lucky to still have childhood friends that stem back for generations with our parents who were also friends and in some cases grandparents.

They know the good, the bad and the ugly about me and I know it about them but I also know that if I am ever if need of a pick me up or indeed a kick up the backside that they will be the first to do it.

Life throws curve balls at us all at some point and it is then that we know who are true friends really are.

These are the ones who give the good advice or in some cases give the space that you need. They don’t judge you, they listen when you are repeating yourself over and over again. Friends are like your family and they will always have your back.

This piece is a roundabout way of me thanking my buddies for being in my life and for letting them know how important they are to me.

I would like to think that I myself am a good friend too and I know that I always strive to help my friends when they need it.

At different times of my life I have made different friendships, be it in Galway, Dublin, Cork or Kerry. Some of these friendships were made on nights out when you just click with someone, others through work and others that you meet through existing friends.

I truly value my friends and I look forward to maintaining them and making new bonds with others.

Remember folks this ain’t no dress rehersal and you only have one shot at life so make it count.

Until next week,

Be happy!

Orlagh xx