For the past week since school started, I have also learnt that friends come and go. When friends are busy, friendships tend to be rather "cold" in a sense. Slowly and surely, space needs to be given for friendships to keep warm and going. Be ready to establish new friendships.
Well, I guess it is never easy to maintain a friendship. It takes time, space and understanding. As I read about the various principles of handling people and getting people to like me, I realise it is crucial that others should come before self. Hopefully, I can slowly practise and apply these principles in my life to improve on human relations, particularly in handling friendships. I will try practising SMILING to everyone. BE OF GOOD CHEER. Remember the blessings from God and count my blessings always. GIVE THANKS.
Read a number of pages of SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT today during my bus ride and morning assembly SILENT READING time. Here's my sharing from p.79 that is something close to my heart...
FRIENDS
No one has so many friends he or she can afford to squander even one.
John Cherten Collins declared, "In prosperity, our friends know us. In adversity, we know our friends."
The 1828 Noah Webster dictionary says that a friend is "one who is attached to another by affection; one who entertains for another sentiments of esteem, respect and affection, which lead him to desire his company and to seek to promote his happiness and prosperity." In other words, it means someone who is interested in doing something for another person. A friend is an attendant, a companion, a favourer; one who is propitious. It is a term of salutation.
I agree with the statement that if, at the end of life, we can count at least two people who are true friends willing to do anything for us at the drop of the hat, who stand ready when we are hurting or need help, we are indeed fortunate. I atest to this statement too, having experienced the goodness of my dear friends who surround me.
We can talk with friends about every facet of life - our joys, trials, triumphs, tragedies, hopes, wants and needs. We can make ourselves vulnerable to them, knowing they will always think and act in our best interests.
Joseph Addison held that "friendship improves happiness and abates misery by doubling our joy and dividing our grief."
Robert Hall claimed, "He who has made the acquisition of a judicious and sympathizing friend may be said to have doubled his mental resources."
Since friends and friendships are so valuable, how can you acquire more?
If you go out in life looking for friends, they will be hard to find.
If you go out in life striving to be a friend, you will find them everywhere.
Samuel Johnson said, "If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone. A man should keep his friendship in a constant repair." Follow that advice and you will seldom be lonely.
Indeed, friends mean a lot in my life. I love and care for my friends around me, no matter who they are and how they treat me.
Nonetheless, there will be times of happiness as well as times of bitterness. That's life.
Thank God for the friends HE has given me in my life. Blessings from God with every new friend made.
What a wonderful time I had with my good old friends.... First, I met up with my dear ex-TJC friend, Lynette for a cuppa. We went to TCC at Raffles Place for coffee and snack. She was a good listener as most of the time I was the one talking. 
Sweetened by such words of comfort that I have such a supportive friend. A friend in need, is a friend indeed. How true! Cherish such a great pal. 
She's a sweet and generous friend. Not only did she give me gifts from Hong Kong, she bought me a Charles & Keith bag, same as the one that she was carrying. 
What a thoughtful gal, sharing good stuff with me and even buying it as a gift for me. Heehee... first time a friend buys such an expensive gift for me. It was my belated BD gift. 
Thankful to God always for sending me such lovely friends... As the saying goes, "at home, depend on parents; when outside, depend on friends". Elated to have such caring and loving friends. The best of my days ... basking in true hardy friendships... friends whom I can share weal and woe with...
I had a jolly good time during this June holiday trip to Taiwan with my best friend Hua Chin, along with her R.O. (Reach Out) volunteer group friends, Jie Ting and Colin, with his kid sister, Tong Tong.
For the first time in my life, I travelled with just friends without my parents or with the school people. How wonderful it was to enjoy the fun in travelling from place to place in Taipei with my friends. I loved the times spent there sight-seeing, eating and shopping. 
Truly, God's creation is beautiful and awesome. We definitely loved the mountainous and sea views. The best sea view was at Ye Liu with the different rock formations and stacks left behind by weathering of wind and waves. 
We also had a fantastic time singing away on Auntie Liao's personal KTV system. Ended the night with a few good old songs like peng you (Friends). A pity, the sunrise was not as fantastic as we dreamt it to be. Nonetheless, we had a good breakfast served by the host, Auntie Liao before we journeyed on back to Taipei city. 
Throughout this trip, I am thankful for having friends who always care for me. Ever so thoughtful, especially my best friend, Hua Chin. 
My friends kept asking if I was ok. I assured them that I was better. Particularly, my best friend Chin who keeps checking on me. Felt so good to have a great buddy who cares so much for me. Hence, she reminded me constantly to mind what I eat then, knowing me well to be a food lover. Sighz... what to do since I have a weak stomach from the previous months of being ill. Slowly building up my health. Sad that I could not eat as much as I would have liked at the Shilin Night market with the rest of them. Heehee, but my kawan bought me a good hot bowl of porridge that was nice to eat. I could only try a bit of the food that the rest ate. Better than nothing. 
We reached the airport around 7.15 a.m. and checked in our luggages at 7.40a.m. At the airport, I bought a nice Ocarina in Wonderland CD. Lovely music from the Ocarina. I had bought a few Ocarinas for gifts to others and myself. Going to learn how to play it proper. Good instrument for destress too.
Be strong enough to
face the world each day
Be weak enough to know
you cannot do everything alone
Be generous to those who need your help
Be frugal with what you need yourself
Be wise enough to know that
you do not know everything
Be foolish enough to
BELIEVE in MIRACLES
Be willing to
SHARE your JOYS
Be willing to
SHARE the sorrows of others
Be a leader when you see a path others have missed
Be a follower when
you are shrouded in the midst of uncertainty
Be the FIRST to CONGRATULATE an opponent who SUCCEEDS
Be the LAST to CRITICIZE a friend who FAILS
Be sure where next step will fall, so that you will not stumble
Be sure of your final destination,
in case you are going the wrong way.
Be LOVING
to those who LOVE you
Be LOVING
to those who DO NOT LOVE you,
and they may CHANGE.
Above all, BE YOURSELF.
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