Where Would I Be Without Friends?

It should not come as a surprise that I have been reading a lot about factors that correlate with dementia.  Two of the strongest protective factors seem to be education and a strong social network (aka friends). My father is certainly well educated.  In addition to a graduate degree and work towards a second, he spent most of his spare time reading.  And his greatest frustration with his dementia is not his inability to retain names.  It is his struggle with retaining plot lines in books.
My father is a classic introvert.  He used to have close acquaintances, but no one that I would call a friend.  I do remember my father having occasional long conversations with his younger brother.  But that brother alienated himself from the family a long time ago and then died at a young age. Att a certain point, whether because of his undiagnosed hearing loss, depression or early symptoms of dementia, my father started pulling inward, and his external connections slowly disappeared from his life.
In contrast to my father, I have built a family-by-choice of close friends. I also have a circle of close friends, who while not quite family, I do care about quite deeply.  I admit that I hold myself to a very high standard for friendship.  And I have, on occasion, been criticized by my friends for not holding them to the same standard to which I hold myself.
Every once in a while, something comes up that reminds me how critical friends are to one’s well being.This afternoon I am driving a friend to and from a medial appointment for a procedure that requires anesthesia.  This friend was very apologetic in his request, as if it was somehow too much of an imposition.  I explained to him that it would never occur to me that his request was out of line and that it falls firmly in the things friends do for each other category.
It is too easy to take one’s friends for granted.  I think we need to acknowledge how important they are to our general health and well being.  Just knowing that there is someone else who cares about you in the world is mutually beneficial.  A few years ago, I started a practice of periodically telling my friends how important they are to me.   I want the message that our friendship matters to be completely unencumbered.  Therefore, I try to make sure it is not connected to asking for or owing any favors.
I truly value all of the people who are part of my life.  Without them, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.