Throughout most of my twenties, a majority of my free time was spent trying to find a partner to spend my life with. Even in my teens, I put the most time and mental energy into my romantic relationships. (To be clear, this isn’t something I recommend!) For a large period of my life, I didn’t fully realize the power friendship could hold.

These days, my perspective on this front has shifted quite a bit. The older I’ve gotten, the more important my friendships have become. I’ve learned over time that a romantic partner is not the healthiest place to get all of your needs met. Later in life, I’ve finally realized just how fulfilling my friendships can be. 

This month’s theme on Wit & Delight is all about the power of friendship.

In my experience, the most fulfilling friendships come from being intentional about connecting and spending time together, even amid the hectic nature of busy lives. As it turns out, the classic saying rings true: What you put into a friendship is what you get out of it.

As we move into May, I invite you to consider what friendship means to you—whether old or new, in-person or virtual, frequent or once in a blue moon. How do you prioritize friendships in your life? How would you like to do it more intentionally? Are there any roadblocks that tend to get in the way? What do you want your friendships to look like in the summer season ahead?

Friendship can often feel like an afterthought, but it shouldn’t be. If you invest in your friendships and treat them with intention, they can be so life-giving.

Friendship can often feel like an afterthought, but it shouldn’t be. If you invest in your friendships and treat them with intention, they can be so life-giving. With spring well underway, now is as good a time as any to encourage our friendships to blossom.

This May, our contributors will be writing about how to stay connected in a long-distance friendship, how to cope with the in-between spaces of our lives, and what serves as the foundation of the strongest friendships. I’ll be sharing my favorite design updates after two years of living in our home (time flies!), a before and after of my closet space, and my favorite summer wedding looks. Stay tuned for this and plenty more throughout the month ahead!

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Kate Arends

Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.