Friendship.

This summer is overcast by the fact that our very good friends are leaving us for somewhere sunny in South East Asia. Looking back the past few years that we know them, they have brought us so much fun and laughter, sharing all the usual joy and frustrations in life. Jasmine is also upset that she is going to miss her friends. After all, true friends are hard to find. They are the ones whom you are comfortable with and whom you can share the understandings and also misunderstandings with an open mind, knowing the fact that after all life is too short to dwell on the past. Whats really moved us is that they are always grateful and so easy to get along with. Now losing them in the vicinity is a painful experience to us. It felt like part of us has gone away and such emptiness in us happened so suddenly and we are clueless as to what to do.

I guess this takes courage and patience in coping with such occurrence. Courage as to finding new ways of living without our true friends and patience as to our sadness (some may say 'bereavement') and emptiness will pass. We should be allowed to feel sad, lonely, angry, lost, self pitied, empty and perhaps a sense of apathy and negative determination that one shall not meet any new friends anymore for fear of experiencing the pain of departure again.

However, what is life if there is no true friendship? Just because we had experienced the sadness of departure, does it mean that we cannot have more friends again? Does it mean we lost them forever? Does it mean we have to protect ourselves even more carefully?

Not really. A true friendship has fostered us a shared worth, language and values that have enriched our lives. It has almost given us an ability of looking at life in new perspectives and also new ways of coping with lives.  This is what we should be thankful for.

To Amanda, Chris and Christine, we can only say thank you for all you have given to us. Please take with you our best intention, blessings and prayers. May your onward journey be wonderful and fill with happiness and opportunities that we shall meet again. Departure is not an end point, it is not only a cornerstone to make an end of chapter but also a new beginning.