The Friend Who Makes Everyone’s Day Better

I have another friend who is a genuinely good person.

And this one isn’t angry with the world.

He seems quite pleased to be here.

More importantly,

he makes everyone else feel pleased to be here too.

Some people arrive at a gathering and ask where the drinks are.

He arrives,

starts talking,

makes a joke,

and suddenly the evening has begun.

He’s the life and soul of the party.

In Spanish:

“Es el alma de la fiesta.”

And he doesn’t even need a microphone.

Please don’t give him one.

Good Mood. Highly Contagious.

Being with him usually means laughing.

He finds something funny in almost any situation.

Even when someone is having a bad day, he tries to give them a reason to smile.

Not by shouting:

“CHEER UP!”

Nobody in the history of bad moods has enjoyed being told to cheer up.

He does it with a joke.

A conversation.

A bit of warmth.

Before you know it, you’re laughing at something ridiculous and the day feels a little less heavy.

He’s a bit like the Pied Piper.

Except nobody needs rescuing afterwards.

He suggests a plan and people follow.

“Shall we go somewhere?”

Yes.

“Shall we do something?”

Apparently, yes.

I’m not even sure what we’ve agreed to.

But everyone seems happy, so off we go.

People want to spend time with him because they enjoy how they feel around him.

That’s a lovely quality to have.

The Best Part Isn’t the Jokes

He doesn’t need to be the centre of attention.

And he notices the people who aren’t saying much.

The person sitting at the edge of the group.

The friend who hasn’t joined the conversation.

The one who looks as if they’d quite like to disappear behind a plant.

He tries to bring them in.

Not with an interrogation.

Just by making room.

“Intenta que nadie se quede fuera del grupo.”He tries to make sure nobody is left out of the group.

Being the life and soul of the party is good.

Making other people feel that they belong is even better.

And when a friend has a problem, he knows how to listen.

He doesn’t treat every difficult moment as an opportunity for another joke.

Sometimes he makes you laugh.

Sometimes he lets you talk.

That’s what I admire.

His positivity doesn’t mean ignoring other people’s feelings.

And it doesn’t mean he’s never sad himself.

He’s a person.

Not a motivational poster with shoes.

He simply tries to find reasons to keep going—and helps the people around him do the same.

This Week’s Spanish Class: Describing Someone Who Brings Joy

At Spanish Super Tutor, this week we’re talking about friendship, personality and the people who make a group feel better.

A few useful expressions:

• Tener sentido del humor — To have a sense of humour.

• Hacer reír a los demás — To make other people laugh.

• Ser el alma de la fiesta — To be the life and soul of the party.

• Saber escuchar — To know how to listen.

• Apoyar a un amigo — To support a friend.

• Contagiar alegría — To spread joy.

But don’t just give me a list of adjectives.

Tell me what the person does.

“Es una persona positiva porque intenta hacer reír a los demás.”He’s a positive person because he tries to make other people laugh.

Then add something more:

“Además, sabe escuchar cuando un amigo tiene un problema.”What’s more, he knows how to listen when a friend has a problem.

Now you’re describing a person.

Not reading the back of a birthday card.

What Makes Someone Good Company?

¿Es más importante hacer reír o saber escuchar?Is it more important to make people laugh or to know how to listen?

¿Se puede ser el alma de la fiesta sin ser el centro de atención?Can you be the life and soul of the party without being the centre of attention?

¿Qué diferencia hay entre ser positivo e ignorar los problemas?What’s the difference between being positive and ignoring problems?

Bring your opinions.

Explain why.

Give us an example.

Preparing for IGCSE or IB Spanish in Hong Kong? Join us at Spanish Super Tutor with Teacher Miguel.

We’ll practise the Spanish.

And talk about the sort of friend who leaves you in a better mood than he found you.

I’m lucky enough to have one.