For the good and the bad, photo by TheMM

When I was little, my dad used to tell me how he was always going to be there for me, for the good and the bad. He stuck to his promise and never left me. 

We are surrounded by “friends,” by people who like to call themselves our friends, but when we are in deep trouble and finally come out for air, those who are still there are our life companions, our true friends. Take care of those who stood by you though the worst of times. Those are the people who matter and whom you should cherish.

It is in trying times when you must step up to the plate. This becomes effortless when you truly care for the person who is suffering. Your heart goes out to those who are important to you, and reaching out becomes a natural response.

Life is complicated. Our lives are full and time is precious, but we can and should take the time to acknowledge those heroes that backed us when we were in deep waters.

Just as we hope our friends and families will stick by our side through tough times, so should we be there for them. It’s a two-way street. practice being that person you wish others to be.