"我的老祖母总是说，夏天的朋友会像夏天的雪一样融化，但冬天的朋友才是一辈子的朋友。"

The core idea here is pretty straightforward. It's about the difference between friends who are only around during the good times and those who stick with you through thick and thin. Imagine those friends who seem to disappear when life gets tough—those are the "summer friends." Then, there are the "winter friends," the ones who stand by you no matter what. They're the ones who don't vanish when things get icy.

This saying might bring up memories of your own life. Maybe it’s something your grandmother or another older relative might've shared during a tough time. It speaks to a universal truth that, no matter the era, people have always sought genuine connections. Your grandma probably lived through her own ups and downs, and she saw firsthand who was really there for her.

Let’s bring this to life with a real example. Picture this: Jane and Mark were friends since high school. They partied together, went on vacations, and had a blast. But when Jane lost her job and hit a rough patch, Mark was nowhere to be found. He was a summer friend—great during the good times but melted away when things got tough. On the other hand, there’s Emma, who Jane met in college. Emma was there, helping Jane with her resume, giving her pep talks, and just being a shoulder to cry on. Emma’s the winter friend—solid and dependable, no matter the season.

So, how do you apply this wisdom in your life? Start by recognizing who your winter friends are. These are the folks who’ve been there in your darkest hours. Cherish them. Invest in these relationships. Also, strive to be a winter friend yourself. Be present for your friends, not just when it’s fun and easy, but when they really need you.

Think about a time when you were struggling. Maybe you were going through a breakup or dealing with a family crisis. Who showed up for you? Those are your winter friends. Now, flip the script. When your friend was in a bind, did you step up to help, or did you fade into the background? It’s a good gut check for how you’re showing up in your relationships.

Imagine you’re at a coffee shop, chatting with a friend. They’re venting about how a lot of their friends disappeared when they hit a rough patch. You might share your own experiences, talk about this quote, and it suddenly clicks for them. They realize they need to focus on those few true friends who are always there.

In the end, it's about depth, not breadth. Having a lot of friends can be great, but having a few truly dependable ones is priceless. So, next time you’re evaluating your friendships (or your own role as a friend), think about who you want to be there when winter comes. And who you want beside you when the snow melts.