My family is what brings me the greatest joy, the ones who make my heart and spirit laugh. When it comes to laughing out loud like children in the garden, I must mention my small group of friends. Every time we get together, we don’t stop laughing from beginning to end.

With friends, we release stress, let go of tension, and breathe out the weight of everyday problems. Whether we meet up at a bar or gather to watch a sports event, good times are guaranteed. Friends know us perfectly and accept us exactly as we are—more for our flaws than for our virtues. They don’t judge us, and they know all our secrets. And still, they’re the perfect company.

With my friends, it’s always like that. We keep revisiting old stories that make us laugh. We’ve told them a thousand times. It feels like we’re remembering them for the very first time.