A Letter To A Friend..

In an effort to show some appreciation I thought I would write a letter to a friend, only to realise that in thanking my nearest and dearest for being so amazing, I was writing out a whole list of things that I aspire to be in return.

So I thought I would publish it here.

A Letter To A Friend.

​Thank you.

Thank you for being present.

Thank you for being a hand on my shoulder when I have no words.

Thank you for being a shoulder, when I have only tears.

Thank you for listening.

Thank you for telling me you agree with me, so I know I’m not crazy.

Thank you for telling me when you don’t agree with me so I know when I might be.

Thank you for telling me she wasn’t good enough, so that I don’t feel like I’m missing out, and thank you for telling me when she was good enough so that I won’t make the same mistakes again.

Thank you for knowing that I care. For excusing the absences, the delayed text replies and the “I’ll call you right back’s” that take a day to return.

Thank you for understanding that while I can be absent minded, my heart is always present.

Thank you for rolling up your sleeves, to help when things need doing.

Thank you for understanding, when I don’t have the words, and for putting the words in my mouth when I’m lost for them.

Thank you for asking the right questions, and thank you for sometimes not asking questions.

Thank you for your genuine enjoyment and celebrations when I have a win, and for pulling me up again after the losses.

Thank you for the hope you give me, that in all the world there would be nothing humans could not achieve if everyone had one of you in their lives.

Thank you for calling me on bullshit and for jumping in on the bullshit when it’s called for too.

Thank you for looking after my family, and for making me a part of yours.

Thank you for understanding that my bad jokes don’t make me a bad person.

Thank you for the portable alibi.

Thank you for calling me when you need help, for trusting me to look after you when you need it.

Thank you for the laughs, the private messages of things that we wouldn’t want the world to know we laugh about.

Thank you for the song recommendations, the book recommendations, the long conversations over a drink late into the night.

Thank you for feeding me when I was hungry. For picking up the tab when I was short.

Thank you for letting me pick up the tab when things are going well.

Thank you for not keeping count of how many times that happens, I don’t think I could deal with keeping lifelong tabs on $10 here and there!

Thank you for the crazy times.

Thank you for the drunken singalongs.

Thank you for the terrible dance battles, even if it’s mostly watching me engage strangers in those dance battles.

Thank you for looking interested in the funny bits of movies I show you, even when I can tell you don’t think it’s as funny as I do.

Thank you for listening to my music recommendations, and for putting me onto new tunes.

Thank you for the sensible times, where we are grownups that act our age (or at least pretend to).

Thank you for thinking about things, for being open to discussion and debate, even when we don’t agree.

Thank you for being the friend that I hope to be for you.

Thank you, and even though I might not say it enough, I love you.

​-Josh Reid Jones