Many wise sayings (as well as research) promote the importance of quality over quantity of friends, but we’re left to define the word “friend” in our own way.
I’m grateful for the handful of non-relatives whose homes I have access to, who would trust me with their social security numbers, and whom I can trust with my insecurities or my life itself. Our lives should be noticeably better, mutually, because of our friendship than they would be otherwise.
Whatever your definition, remember the importance of seeing others this way and being this friend as well.