Throughout the journey of life, we meet many people. Some people impact on our lives greatly, some whilst not realising it change a small part of us and hopefully for the better. Some people make us evaluate our own lives and make us realise just what we have and how lucky we are. We admire people, we hero worship them, sometimes we would like to swap lives with them, even for just a few hours to see how different it would be.

There are many names for some of these people. For example here are dictionary definitions for just a few of them.

Friend: A person known well to another and regarded with liking, affection, and loyalty

Acquaintance: A person whom one knows but who is not a close friend.

Colleague: A fellow worker or member of staff.

We can probably all associate with the different types of people. For example there are people we work with that maybe we are friendly with but would never be ‘friends’ with. A really good friend of mine summed up how she felt about her work colleagues and not wanting to go on a night out with them.

“I have nothing in common with any of the girls that are going, I don’t wish to have anything in common. And I don’t like them – so that solves that feeling of guilt then!! “

Okay we may not all feel that strongly about it, but it did make me chuckle when I read it. We can’t always like everyone we work with, but we have to put up with them on a professional level. Nobody said anything about having to go out at night with them!

An acquaintance can be someone we pass the time of day with, more to be polite. For example saying hello to other people we see on a regular basis ie they are always on the same transport with you when going to work, other mums on the school run, people in a different department to yourself. You may not be in the ‘having a coffee’ league with them, but it still makes for a pleasant day by sharing small amounts of polite conversation.

A friend, as the definition says, is generally someone we like, have affection for and would be loyal to. Maybe it’s someone we have known for a long time, a childhood friend, someone you have met in similar circumstances, or can be people at work that we click with.

But what elevates a friend to a best friend? In my opinion it’s :-

Someone who enriches your life. It’s someone you wouldn’t hesitate in turning to, to share your woes and your achievements. It’s someone, who despite not always having the same ideas and principles, will still support you. It’s someone who doesn’t judge you but will listen.

And above all it’s someone who has the ability to comfort you with a hug, a word or a deed.