Life without friends....

The very thought of it makes me uneasy and nervous. I have flashes of being trapped in a musty old celler, a feeling of lonelyness and hopelessness fills my chest, and I long to be saved by a friend.
My dad always said, we are social creatures, fortunately or unfortunately, and to be happy and successful we needed to develop social skills. I have to say I am not “Party-every-weekend” kind of girl, but if you were to ask me about memorable times, they will usually involve an occasion where I was surrounded by family and friends who love me.
I do have a lot of close friends, people I have met in very varied circumstances and people who I share a special bond with. I have made friends at school and university, at work, in a bus stop or a train, and to this day I have never regretted having met or allowed anyone to come into my life.
I found myself asking a question, I would have never normally asked. Could I live a life without friends? And the thought of it sends shivers down my spine. Let me make some things clear. I was not “Miss popular” in school with a trillion friends. I have always treasured my friends, because I thought of them as rare jewels that a few are fortunate to find. I have always put in my effort, because I believe it is important not to take any relationship for granted. So I was not handed friends on a silver platter.
I find that my friends have become an extension of my family and I am always eager and keen to make new friends.
So a simple straight forward answer to the question “Could I live a life without friends?” would simply be – NO. Not if I wanted to live a sane and happy life. That’s because my friends help me balance my life, they are an integral part of my life and who I am. I hope I am fortunate enough to love and treasure them for the rest of my life.