Good friends are valuable. And like anything that's valuable, there's some effort and thought that's required for caring friendships.
In my life I think I've sometimes taken friendship for granted. I was always surrounded by many, many loving people--a warm environment, so I didn't have to think too much about friendship since it was always there.
As I get older though, I am recognizing both the value and effort needed related to friendship. We need friends, we care about our friends, and we have to take care of one another. This is integral to the good life.
One doesn't have to have a zillion friends to be happy, but a few close friends or more definitely make life better.
Most of what I've learned so far about friendship has come from the way good friends have treated me, and episodes of friendship-gone-wrong.
What's Important?
In my life I think I've sometimes taken friendship for granted. I was always surrounded by many, many loving people--a warm environment, so I didn't have to think too much about friendship since it was always there.
As I get older though, I am recognizing both the value and effort needed related to friendship. We need friends, we care about our friends, and we have to take care of one another. This is integral to the good life.
One doesn't have to have a zillion friends to be happy, but a few close friends or more definitely make life better.
Most of what I've learned so far about friendship has come from the way good friends have treated me, and episodes of friendship-gone-wrong.
What's Important?
- Treat friends with respect and care
- Don't think you have to be all things to your friends; give and be what you can
- Be gently straightforward with friends; don't go behind their backs
- Support a friend as well as you can when times are tough
- Don't tell friends what to do; everyone has to follow their own life path
- Don't compete with friends: when you play the competition game, no one wins
- Think of your friends as an opportunity to learn about and experience different aspects of life
- Instead of ending a friendship, take a vacation from a friend when needed
- Don't say or do hurtful things that will be hard for your friend to forget or forgive
- Treat your friends to special events and surprises when possible
- Find what is that you enjoy together and make a point to do that often
We won't be friends with everyone. In fact, it's kind of magical to think about how friends start and who attracts you to be their friend. Friendship is a key ingredient to the good life, so friends with the respect and care they deserve.