The company we keep
“Tell me with whom you associate and I will tell you who you are.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
When I was a kid, my parents emphasized the value of choosing friends who were a positive influence — the ones who stayed out of trouble and earned good grades in school. My folks understood that our peers help shape who we become. With that in mind, they often repeated the adage, “Be careful with whom you associate, because you’re judged by the company you keep.”
When we became parents, Doug and I made a point of getting to know our son’s school friends. We encouraged them to spend time in our home and invited them to family outings. All were good students, and as one of their teachers told me, they inspired each other to succeed. It was a joy to watch them grow up.
When I think about the close friends I have now, I know my folks would be as proud of them as I am. They support me through difficult challenges, encourage my dreams, and validate my core beliefs and values.
No matter how old we are, friends who bring out the best in us are the best company. ~CL
Cindy La Ferle
Throughout my career, I've worked as a book production editor, travel magazine editor, features writer, and weekly newspaper columnist. My award-winning lifestyles features and essays have appeared in many national magazines and anthologies, including Newsweek, Reader's Digest, The Christian Science Monitor, Writer's Digest, Victoria, Better Homes & Gardens, Bella Grace, and more. My weekly Sunday "Life Lines" column ran for 14 years in The Daily Tribune (Royal Oak, MI) and won a First Place (Local Columns) award from the Michigan Press Association. My essay collection, Writing Home, includes 93 previously published columns and essays focusing on parenthood and family life.
