Friends are the family you choose for yourself

Someone once said: Best friends are the people in your life that make you laugh louder, smile brighter and live better.

In the last few months I have realised how precious friends are, and how they have become the family I've always wanted. A very wise friend and coach once said that if you want something really badly, you will find it - maybe not in the exact same format as you wanted, but in the format you actually needed. I have found my family.

There have been several instances recently where I've been humbled and surprised by the support and sacrifices my friends have made for me during a difficult transition period of my life. Why do people do good things and offer help, or give their precious time for no reason other than just being a real friend. Because deep down people are good. Call me naive, but I believe in the general 'goodness' of mankind.

To fund my Clipper race I have had to sell my car, and I've been working three jobs to try and earn a bit extra. I also wanted to organise a fundraising event to raise some money toward my trip and to support one of my favourite charities. Being short on resources I haven't had much to offer my friends. Yet, during this time neighbours have left me food in my microwave when I've been working late, other friends lent me one of their cars, others donated amounts to my fundraising efforts that totally surprised me, others have offered a venue, donated prizes, offered to do all the catering for the fundraising event, helped me with my time management and budget, provided advice and hugs when I felt lost and overwhelmed, cleared my gutters and helped with the garden, done design work on my website and helped with my blog, edited my news release, offered a place to stay when I move out of my cottage, and just generally been overwhelmingly good to me. I don't deserve all this kindness - I am just incredibly lucky!

In the midst of all the horror and politics and negativity we experience daily, it is a relief to find faith in humanity through the friends who provide strength, laughter, warmth and acceptance like a big, soft blanket…..

A thank you is never enough, but it is all I have. The only thing we can do with friendship and kindness to show our gratitude, is to pay it forward. This way it grows and karma makes it work. Kindness can change the world.