A true friend.

A true friend is many things. A confidant. A shoulder to cry on. A keeper of secret dreams and aspirations. They are a smiling face in the crowd. Months can go by, but every time you see them, it’s that same unconditional pull.

My dear friend C. comes to visit me at the kitchen sometimes, and keeps me company while I try out new recipes or prepare an order. She brings me a big bottle full of her homemade, super healthy, nutrient-rich beverage to help neutralize my sugar intake. It’s a lovely gesture of friendship that I savor with every sip.

One day, towards the end of the school year, she mentioned that she was headed to Europe. Was there anything I needed? Her question gave me pause. Rather, her graciousness. Because who does that just before dashing off on a trip abroad? I thought for a moment. She was being so kind, and I couldn’t impose. Yet her kindness prevailed, and when she mentioned she would be stopping in Paris, I shared that there were several recipes I wanted to try from a new French cookbook, but they all called for a chestnut spread that is widely embraced in France. I asked if she would keep her eyes peeled for it.

Several weeks later, there was C., smiling in the kitchen doorway, holding up a can of chestnut spread. I couldn’t believe it. Not only did she take the time to find it, but she schlepped it along during her family holiday. It was the ultimate souvenir, of course, but more than that, it was another gesture of genuine friendship.

It can be hard to make new friends, especially as we get older. We have our routines, the dictates of family life and a long list of obligations competing for our attention. But sometimes life makes way for you to cross paths with another like-minded person. And if you’re lucky, a kindred spirit. Make way right back if you can. You might just find a much-needed smiling face in the crowd.