To Dream a Dream of Friendship | NEW: Let's Make A Collage Theme Contest Round #1 (Good Old Friends)

Hello LMAC and Hive members. LMAC Community has broadened its scope and is now offering participation in theme contests. This is an exciting venture for the community. I view it the same as the word and picture prompts in the Freewriters Community, which I'm subscribed to. It's a fun way to tailor your collage project to a specific topic. As I understand it, the new LMAC theme contests will encompass a new focus:

• Timeframe: every third Thursday of the month;
• Theme: a single word or a whole sentence that will change every round;
• Design: a collage about what this theme stands for to you or whatever it inspires you to create;
• Deadline and Prizes: see theme contest round post for details;

If you'd like to join in this current theme round with an entry deadline of November 18, end of day (midnight UTC), visit: Let's Make a Collage - Theme Contest #1.

I wanted to share with you my LMAC Theme Contest Round #1 Entry.

Seeing others through the lens of diversity and still desiring to be close to them knowing their attributes, their faults, and their desires. As long as others see the world as I do as an opportunity to do good and not for evil intentions, then I'm willing to share my space with them and call them a "friend.

I feel that making friends is easier than maintaining them. When I think back on the one friendship circle that I was involved in with four individuals over forty years ago, I have to ask myself how did this bond evolve and sustain itself?

The answer was simple in our case. Shared values, respect, a genuine affection for each other, and the desire to see each prosper in life and personal relationships.

I was told at the start of our group that began in a work environment that married couples and single individuals could not survive a long-term friendship. I didn't set out to prove anyone wrong because was the only married member. It was just that the elements were in place at that time that made our friendship work. We supported and helped each other, whether financially or emotionally. Also, encouragement was a key part of our friendship.

When one of us encountered outside toxic relationships, we didn't condemn, but listened and attempted to impart sound advice. Fortunately, those encounters faded. On the other end when clarity was finally achieved, it was with great joy and satisfaction to hear how just being someone who had their best interests at heart and listened was more valuable as a friend.

We laugh about them now with the wisdom of experience and thank God the others were there to see us through the ordeal.

That's what I remember and cherish the most. Thank God we are all still living our best life as we possibly can at our age with life behind us, adult children,

Now we have grandchildren. The years have flown by so quickly. None of us are as active or socialize as frequently as we did then, but important events in our lives bring us together.

That's my dream of true friendship.

In preparing my theme of friends, I wanted to portray playfulness, together with seriousness. For the serious items, I included a statue of an angel to signify the belief system in our lives that sustains us in times of need. For the playfulness, I decided on a kitten.

In addition, I wanted to interject an item with the eye to recommend we view others when selecting friends through the lens of diversity and clarity, ever watchful for truth and integrity while seeking a deeper connection.

Below are the procedures and images I included in my theme:

Item	Contributor	Source
Humanoid in field of flowers	Pixabay	Link
Dandeloin	Pixabay	Link
Red and black butterfly	Contributed to the #LIL by @redheadpei	Link
Brown rabbit	Contributed to the #LIL by @redheadpei	Link
Angel statute	Contributed to the #LIL by @redheadpei	Link
Blue rose	Contributed to the #LIL by @mitag2398	Link
Giraffe	Contributed to the #LIL by @eve66	Link
Yellow cat	Contributed to the #LIL by @edgarafernandezp	Link
Purple round flower	Contributed to the #LIL by @drydia	Link

I then utilized Canva to blend the different type images. Below are my steps in which I begin with a blank, white canvas, then added layers of elements, removing backgrounds, resizing, duplicating, colorizing, and repositioning items as needed incorporating the tools at my disposal in my Annual Pro Membership Subscription.

Below is my completed collage for LMAC Theme Contest Round 1:

Thanks for your visit. I appreciate it. I hope you like my Round 1 theme contest for "Good old Friends".