TV star Horst Lichter: That’s why he likes to be friends with himself

“Since I became friends, I have taken much better care of myself and those around me,” reveals presenter Horst Lichter (62) to the news agency spot on news about his new autobiographical book “Time for Friendship?!” (Knaur, October 1st), which he wrote with co-author Till Hoheneder. In it, the “Bares für Rares” star talks about the people who were important to him throughout his life and still are today and exchanges ideas with other celebrities about the many facets of the topic of friendship. In the interview he talks about friendship in show business and with himself.

Dear Mr. Lichter, you dealt intensively with friendship for your book. Has this changed your perspective on the topic?

Horst Lichter: Yes, really! Everything I thought I knew about friendship was tested again and again. And from every step of the process – and I worked on many steps together with Till Hoheneder – I came to a different decision. For example, in the question of what makes a true friend. You read everywhere, he is always there for you, whether you are sick, have financial difficulties or have personal problems. I then said: If I had to get into such a problem situation, I would rather not get to know my true friend. Friendship can also be defined differently, I think!

Aside from work and family, how much space do your friends take up in your life and how many people do you consider to be good friends?

Lichter: Oh, that’s difficult… I also thought about this question a lot during the book. There are a handful of people who I actually call friends, as you usually hear. But overall there is a circle of friends that I am friends with, and there are quite a few more. There are probably around 15 or 20 people, so someone comes along every now and then and then someone leaves.

What is interesting is your view that friendship is not a plant that needs to be nurtured. What does a good friendship need for you?

Lichter: What everyone actually wants from a friendship: absolute honesty and absolute trust. If a look is sometimes enough and says more than 1000 words, that’s a friendship. To be there when it is necessary, but also when it is not necessary. In my opinion, friendship shouldn’t demand anything.

What is an absolute no-go for you in a friendship?

Lights: Fraud. Sneaky. Envy and greed.

Many people refer to their partner as their best friend. Your book says you “don’t think” that’s what you wanted. What separates your wife from a best friend for you?

Lichter: I don’t share my whole life with my best friend, but I do with my wife. That’s why it’s a completely different basis. You can be friends, but your spouse is your spouse – until death do us part. That’s how it should be.

What do your friends give you that no other people give you?

Lights: A good feeling. The good feeling of being liked, but also of being told when you might be on the wrong path.

What is the most meaningful thing you owe a friend?

Lichter: I actually have to think about this… there are just too many things that people have done for me that I am very grateful for. But I find it very difficult to highlight any of it.

Is it harder to make friends in show business as a celebrity? Who do you have a close friendship with in the industry?

Lichter: Yes, it’s more difficult. Especially in the first few years, I often thought that they were all warm-hearted, lovable people who all pursued the same goal – to have fun and have fun, to experience something great together and to do what we were there to do: to entertain other people well . I’ve been here for 25 years now and I’m no longer so naïve about it. Who I really like is Jenke von Wilmsdorff, she’s a really fine person. But there are also a few other great people in the industry, but that would go beyond the scope.

Are there any broken friendships that you have mourned?

Lights: They exist. There are friendships that you ended because you believed that as a friend you had to interfere in things that really didn’t concern you. But I had to learn that first. A friend can’t do everything! A friend is allowed to say something, give advice, but they are not actually allowed to interfere.

When was the last time you met someone with whom you developed a friendship?

Lichter: I meet so many great people every day, so it’s hard to say when they’ll become friends.

You yourself say: “I want to be friends with me.” What are the greatest benefits of becoming friends with yourself? What do you like most about yourself?

Lichter: When you become friends with yourself, you have a few things to say about it. I’ve always wondered: Would you knowingly harm a friend with nicotine, alcohol or something similar? No! Why yourself? Would you intentionally make a friend sick by constantly eating the wrong food and leading an unhealthy lifestyle? No. Why yourself? Would you hurt yourself, exert yourself until you collapse, knowing better? No. Since becoming friends with someone, I have taken much better care of myself and those around me. It’s very nice to be friends with yourself.

They also describe health aspects. Other countries combat social isolation with loneliness ministries. Do we need such an institution in this country too?

Lichter: No, we don’t need it. We need a sensible upbringing in which parents teach their children what friendship is and how to deal with other people. How do you help? What is intergenerational coexistence like? There’s the wonderful film “The Blue Ribbon” where you can see that people live well into their 100s. A few things are the same about all of these people: They eat sensibly, but not always. They sometimes drink a drink or eat too much, but not regularly. They all work very hard, physically. But the most important thing is that all these people who grow old live in a functioning, excellent social environment. There are the children, the grandchildren, the friends, the relatives and we look after each other. I think we should all do this and we will all live a little healthier.