By Tere Ruiz
In Mexico, on Valentine’s Day we celebrate friendship as well as love, but when you are a little girl, the most important thing in your life are your friends and I believe children are very wise, because as time passes by, one of the most important things you cherish are your Best Friends.
Best friends, Marinieves and Tere's daughter Andrea knew the value of friendship at a very early age, as Andrea applies lipgloss to her friend's lips.
Valentine’s Day has always been a very special day in my life. Since I was in first grade, I remember that it was the candy and hearts day. All the girls would bring red hearts made with different kinds of paper to give to their friends. We used to pin all the hearts on our uniform and felt very proud of showing as many hearts as possible. The hearts were different sizes, and they would say nice things about you and what an important friend you were to the friend who gave it to you. I still cherish lots of hearts from my childhood in my treasure box.
Some girls would also bring candy or mostly lollipops to give to their friends. Usually the biggest and prettiest lollipops were for the best friends, and the standard ones to the other girls.
When I was younger, I always thought that my friends from my childhood would always be my Best and only friends. Now I know that I was wrong, because although, yes, indeed, my friends from childhood are still my best friends (even thought now we don’t look the same or do the same things we used to), living a New Life at Lakeside has made my list of friends much bigger, in a way I never imagined.
Lake Chapala has made wonderful magic in my life, and one of the best things is all the wonderful 
people that I have met through all the Focus Programs I’ve participated since February 2008. I could make a large list of names, but I know it is not necessary, because friendship is something that you can feel in your heart when you think of a person, something that makes your smile look big and beautiful when you remember, something that makes your treasure box almost explode with all the little souvenirs, something that makes your albums heavier with memories.
Thinking of your friends is like flying through the time like the bees fly from flower to flower, remembering all the happy birthdays, all the laughter, hugs, smiles, silences, advice, tricks, complicity, comfort, company, adventures, creativity, dreams, plans, experience, expectations, illusions, hope, faith, plans, success, failures, achievements, learning, tears, wonder, joy, love and laughter…
Sometimes the distance makes us believe or feel that our friends are not with us anymore, that they are living their lives or that they are busy with other friends they’ve made. But we are always wrong, because when friendship is real, neither the time nor the distance can break it, for the ties that keep friends together can cross the borders between countries, cultures, beliefs, and even life and eternity… and what keeps you united are the feelings, the love, the memories, the joy.
Always remember that when friends are not around, it may be that they are spreading throughout the world what they have learned beside you.
I write this article to celebrate life and friendship and to remind all of you who are my friends, that I will always wish for you all the Love, Joy, Friendship and Magic and to thank you for making my New Life full of all the Love, Joy, Friendship and Magic I cherish today.
Thank you my friends, you are always in my heart.
Tere Ruiz-Rodarte: Director of Research and Development FocusOnMexico.
Focus On
Mexico offers 8-Day Educational
Programs to Ajijic and Lake Chapala, Mexico (2nd Best Climate in the
World). Join us on a Focus program and learn why thousands of Americans and
Canadians chose to retire in Lake Chapala.
Our programs offer
the perfect balance; a wonderful vacation and an insightful, educational
experience. Our expert speakers cover all topics: Health Care, Real Estate,
Legal System, Immigration, Bringing Pets, Cost of Living, US Taxes for
Americans, Non-Residency for Canadians, Living on the Lakeside, Investing in
Mexico, Mexican Economy and much more...
You’ll get everything
you need to help you decide if Lake
Chapala, Mexico is the place for you, plus have a lot of fun doing it.
Retiring in Mexico couldn't be better.