As the new year begins, there is a lot of talk of what changes to make this year. For many people it is a time to put renewed effort into relationships. Unfortunately we too often let them lapse, leaving them under-nourished until they starve and fall away. This only gets noticed at the end when you look around and realize that some of the people you held close are no longer there.

Like many others around me I am trying to be a better friend. So here is my open letter to the people in my life:

• To my good friends:
  You have entered my life and made a difference. You have helped me in my times of need, as I have helped you. We have laughed and cried together and learnt more with every experience. Let us continue on this path, growing in our love for each other.
• To my old friends:
  We have loved each other for so long and shared so much that I cannot imagine life without you in it. Our familiarity leads us to take the friendship for granted, assuming it will always be there no matter what. While we will always be connected, there is so much more we could be for each other. Let us strive to build on what we have, share more time, develop our interests so that we can truly be friends in every sense of the word.
• To my new friends:
  Life has brought us together, to take us where is still yet to be seen. Before you go on, you need to know one thing about being friends with me - it is a serious commitment. I don’t walk away from good friends. Be prepared for living, loving, laughing, sharing, talking, liming, crying, hugging and all the other good stuff that makes a friendship.
• To my lost friends:
  We came together for a season, before being drawn apart by life, others, ourselves. Know that I miss you and I still think of the good times. I don’t know if our friendship will recover to its previous glory. It may not be possible. But I am always there for you if you need me. You will always have a friend in me.
• To my renewed friends:
  What I once thought was lost has been brought back into my life. Through our joint efforts we will return to the days when we were friends. We must not dwell however on the past and what went wrong or how we parted. Let us keep looking forward, with our eyes towards the times we will share, the talks we will have.
• To my future friends:
  My heart is huge and always has room for more. Don’t hold back if you feel we can be friends. The worst that will happen if we try is we will have touched each other’s life for a moment before moving on. The best case scenario has us becoming lifelong friends, soulmates even.