There are only a few things I know for certain, but this is one of them.

Friends matter.

The older I get, the more I work with individuals all over the world, and the more I see struggling relationships, the clearer it becomes: we all need a friend.

Not just any friend, but someone who is truly in our corner—cheering us on, genuinely wanting the best for us.

I believe mental health challenges would drastically decrease—maybe even become nonexistent—if everyone had at least one good friend like that. Someone who listens, encourages, and shows up even when life gets messy.

But what if we don’t have that kind of friend in our lives yet?

We start by becoming that friend ourselves.

We show up, even when it’s hard. We listen without judgment. We celebrate others’ wins and quietly support them through losses. The kindness, encouragement, and presence we wish to receive can begin with us.

The best way to invite a friend into our lives is to first be the friend someone else needs.