Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast.

Today's podcast has been edited and adapted from the book Friendship by Hugh Black, published in 1898.

Responsibility for our friendships is not confined to making sure that our influence over others is for good.

We have also a duty to ourselves.

As we possess the gift of influence over others, so we in turn are affected by every life

which touches ours. Influence is like an atmosphere exhaled by each

separate personality. Some people seem neutral and colorless, with no atmosphere, so to speak.

Some have a bad atmosphere, like the poisonous odor of noxious

weeds breeding malaria. If our moral sense were only keen and true, we would instinctively

know them as some children do and dread their company others have a

good atmosphere we can breathe there in safety and have a joyful sense of

security with some of these it is a delicate environment, sweet, suggestive, like the aroma of wild violets.

We have to look and sometimes to stoop to get into its range.

With some it is like a pine forest or a eucalyptus grove of warmer climes, which perfumes

a whole countryside.

It is well to know such people.

They put oxygen into the moral atmosphere, and we breathe more freely for it.

They give us new insight and fresh courage and pure faith, and by the impulse of their

example, they inspire us to a nobler life.

There is nothing so important as the choice of friendship, for it both reflects character

and affects it.

We are known by the company we keep.

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