What is a friend?

Margaret Roy considers what it means to be a friend

Friends touch the soul | Photo: zhrefch / flickr CC

This is something I have given a lot of thought to as a psychotherapist. What makes people happy? What are they looking for?

A very dear friend broke up with her husband. It was not a good relationship for her. When she found someone else I was a little disturbed. Her need was not to be alone. Sure enough, many years later, she is still with this second husband and she has an anchor in this world, but she is still not happy. In fact, she has dug a very deep trench for herself and, I think, ceased to grow many years ago.

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