People are always part of our lives. They come in for a reason, or just for a season. Friendships may be of the lasting kind that we treasure all our lives, or may be fleeting friendships that don't really last. Friendships of all shapes, sizes and ages. Acquaintances, friends of convenience, necessary friends. When you were a child, friendship was the main thing in your life. Then, your requirements were very simple. You needed a companion to play with you, someone you could spend time with. As you grew older, your requirements also changed. You looked for something more tangible; you needed a friend to sympathise with you, someone who was on the same wavelength to whom you could open your heart; someone you could confide in with no holds barred.

Childhood friends, who we have literally known all our lives, often seem to remember everything about us. For all you know, they might remember you as a fat, clumsy girl with no particular talents and with zero self-confidence - a far cry from the svelte, successful young lady you have become! A bit embarrassing or what! At the same time, you don't have to keep explaining your motives or your feelings to them - they are almost an extension of yourself and know you so well.

Often, we may get attracted to people and become friendly with them only because they are so different from us. They may be from a different culture, different economic status, and in many ways, an antithesis of ourselves - which may be what attracts us towards them. Interesting friendships where there is a lot of 'discovering' each other.

Neighbours who get close to us and are often on the same wavelength, make great friends. They also double up as the proverbial 'friend, philosopher and guide'. They chip in with good advice when we are in trouble, or double up as counsellors when we are in need of a sympathetic ear. And I'm not talking about those jealous troublemakers who can also be neighbours!

Then there are school/college friends with whom we may or may not keep in touch. We may have once shared our deepest confidences with these, but not all of them last as friends for a lifetime. As for work friends, we may have shared delightful, comradely moments together, but a change in job or even department will often see the fading away of such friendships. They would have served their purpose.

A strange phenomenon in friendships is the one that exists between what we may call 'kindred souls'. These are people you may meet about whom you have this instant gut feeling, that they are going to have a place in your life and in your heart forever. These will often turn out to be the friends who will support you at any cost, even at times when they don't agree with you.

And then there are friends who are akin to passing ships. You may meet them during a trip, maybe on a cruise, and have a whale of a time with them. You may continue to keep in touch for a while, but as there are no strong bonds, these often fade away with time.

We cannot forget to mention another important facet of friendship - the affinity shared between grown up children and their parents. This is especially true of daughters and mothers who often share a really special bond that only gets strengthened with the passage of time. This is a truly unique relationship that often transcends even the term 'friendship' and goes far beyond it - into the realm of what can be termed a 'perfect' and sublime relationship in every way.

A couple often shares a special relationship which has grown stronger over the years spent in togetherness. This is one relationship that should never be taken for granted, but nurtured in every possible way. There comes a stage in our lives when it is each for the other - and that is the time you will understand the full value of the relationship.

It is true that luck plays an important part in acquiring good friends. But it is up to us to see that the friendship does not fade into oblivion. Any relationship needs to be constantly worked upon and enriched from time to time for it to grow and flourish. It is so easy to take a friend for granted.

Why don't you take some time today to renew a friendship that meant so much to you once? An old friend in town? Just fix up lunch or dinner with her and pick up lost threads. You might just be surprised to know how much you've missed her company!