When I was getting ready for the show and playing around with the phrase “21st Century Stone Age” it got me thinking about how far we’ve come since the first Stone Age, and yet in other ways how little we’ve changed.


I know sometimes it seems like everything is changing so fast that it’s difficult to know what exactly you can count on anymore. I mean, when stone isn’t even really stone anymore, how can you know if anything is real?


Well, we have some dear friends in town from Sheffield, England. They’re very real. I know because they’re sitting right across the table from me. And even though we don’t get to see one another as oft as we’d like, and even though lots of things have changed in all of us over the years, I’m always happy to rediscover how our friendship is still very real.


And how, in many ways, maybe most ways, despite the years and all the changes, we’re all still the same wide-eyed kids, still doing our best to understand ourselves, still in awe of the great Mystery at the center of everything, and still glad to take comfort and rest in each other’s company.


And it reminded me once again of this singular unchanging truth: There’s very little more one really needs in this life apart from a true friend.


Tina and I have built our house for the most part to enjoy the company of friends because for us, friendship is the very definition of home. Make no mistake, when a marriage thrives it’s because those two people are above all other things, friends. When a family thrives it’s not because of authority or obligation but because the rules of friendship are honored first. Friendship cuts to the heart of all relationships, not because of blood or oaths or debts or any other external obligation, but simply because we choose them. Friends are the family you choose.


A friend is someone who understands where you’ve been, accepts what you’ve become, and gives you room to grow. And of course, some of the best advice I’ve ever been given is if you need a friend the best way to make a friend is to be a friend.


So we’re off now to continue to celebrate friendship and I just thought I’d take a moment and encourage you to do the same.


Because friendship is something that hasn’t changed at all from the first Stone Age to this one. And even after all this time, it’s the one thing none of us can do without.


Not only is it a beautiful day but it’s the only today we have. So why not call up a friend and spend it together?



Get together, talk, eat, laugh, cry, whatever. Because building a beautiful friendship is the best way I know how to build yourself a beautiful life.