With a little help from our friends

Your top #squad, best mates, partner, spouse or dog – we all have times when we need some support from our friends. They’re the ones who help put the world to rights and can cure all manner of ills over a cuppa (or a large glass of pinot noir). To celebrate the UN’s Friendship Day this week, we asked Average Janes HQ to celebrate their favourite friendship moments.

They’ll be there for you: celebrating Friendship Day

From friends you can pick up the phone to at 2am, to keeping you motivated in hitting your life goals – we celebrate all the reasons that friends really are the family you pick for yourself.

A warm welcome home – Nell

Having lived in South Korea for two years, when I first arrived back to the UK I spent a weekend with all my London friends, planning to move back to my hometown of Manchester afterwards. Popping round to see my old flat mates, I was expecting a quiet brunch, but they had gathered the whole gang and put on a big feast. They’d even sprinkled ‘Malteaster Bunnies’ – my favourite chocolate – amongst the brunch items.

As I sat there, I realised how comfortable and easy it felt being with people who knew me so well. I made the decision then and there to move back to London. Within two weeks I had a new job and was moving permanently down south. I’m so glad I made the move. I wouldn’t have had the courage to do it without my friends and feel so lucky to have such a supportive group of pals.

Friends far and wide – Holly

When I think of my friends, the first thing I think is that they are all in different places! My best friends since I was at school are in Jersey and luckily I get to see them twice a year at least. Others, from uni or made along the way are scattered everywhere from Bournemouth to Boston, USA. Social media is a great way to keep in touch with them and having lots of Whatsapp groups is perfect for keeping a conversation going or starting a debate! Not knowing anyone (except my boyf) when I moved to Cambridge, I made a point of joining clubs and attending events that enabled me to make some truly amazing friends, some that I will have for life. So even though my friends may be scattered far and wide, I know I can count on them if I need them. (Soppy alert!!)

Sweat, fun and friends – Becky

Sweaty, intimate, lots of exhaling… Nope, not that sort of friendship…but finding great friends slogging it out on the exercise field at British Military Fitness. A few years back, if you’d told me I’d find my exercise happy place on a muddy field doing burpees and squats, I probably would’ve asked you to pass me another gin and tonic. But the friendships forged at BMF keep me going back for session after session. Knowing I’ll see friends who make me laugh and help me stay motivated means I get my weekly endorphin fix both physically and emotionally. See – the endorphin rush of the workouts even inspired hugs at the end of a recent session!

Phone a friend – Harriet

As I have moved around a lot in my time, I feel I have many acquaintances, but only a handful of friends. These are the people where we pick up where we last left off, even though months have passed and they live on the other side of the country (and even the world). With the dominance of messaging apps, I try to make time to phone my small collection of friends. People are now texting more and speaking less. On Friendship Day I will be phoning my handful of friends, undoubtedly picking up where we last left off.

A bit of escapism – Libby

For a ridiculously fun activity that may also test the limits of your friendship, try out an escape game. For those of you who are wondering what that is, it’s basically you and a couple of your friends locked in a room surrounded by object clues and puzzles to solve to escape within a time limit. To find one close to where you live, simply search for ‘escape game’ and get ready for a thrilling adventure!

Which friends would you like to celebrate this Friendship Day (or any day!)?

Share your shout-outs at @tweetjanes.