"To have a friend is great. To be a friend is greater."
(Happy Musings is a newspaper feature syndicated by King Features that I create each
day to remind us all that “Life is wonderful!.”
The older
you get it seems, there is more satisfaction in giving than receiving. Friendship has these two sides to it. The coin is friendship and the sides are
having a friend and being a friend. Perhaps
being a friend is greater.
Several
years ago I wrote a book called THE HAPPY BOOK that Ten Speed Press published. They asked me to gather a few testimonials
for the book from as famous people as I could muster. I called Billie Jean King, whom I had not
spoken with in years, and her first words were, “What can I do for you?” I was taken aback in a way, because, of
course there was nothing I could do for her, but her question implied such
generosity. “What can I do for you?” was direct and at the same time implied
friendship. She was willing to do
something for me, if she could. And she
did so most graciously. No wonder she is
so loved.
During the
process of finding testimonials for that book I also contacted one of
Hollywood’s most famous leading men, a dear friend whose home I had stayed in
many times. The answer to the same
request was quite different. “No, if I
do it for you I will have to do it for everyone.” It was a different point of view of
friendship, I learned. I still love him.
Then I
asked another old friend Merv Griffin if he would comment on my book. Merv was notorious for his generosity. His answer was, “Of course.” The publishing company was very pleased with his
endorsement of the book. I sent him a
little piece of art with my ‘thank you’ that said, “Big-hearted people show
themselves for what they are by what they do.”
He was certainly one of them.
To have a
friend is great. But, to be a friend is
the most helpful thing anyone can be. In
doing so, the one who is being the friend is also the one who is for sure
enjoying the friendship.
Smiles, Sally
“Life is
wonderful! Don’t forget it.”
Please make
a comment if you like. The more happy
people, the better!
To view my gallery
of original art and peek at my extensive lines of bright and happy products,
including THE HAPPY BOOK, bibs, nursery wall décor, totes and purses, and gifts
with thoughtful thoughts, go to: www.sallyhuss.com.)
Email: sally@sallyhuss.com
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c 2008 Sally Huss
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