Friendships are one of the most valuable kind of ships you could have in your life. Whether you met at school or live in the same neighborhood, your friends have been the highlight of your favorite memories. They may have even played a hand in the memories you aren’t too fond of. Whatever the case, your friends are the pillars of your lifestyle and center of your joy. However, under that umbrella of general companionship, there are some levels. From strangers to best friend, each level and section has its own unique relationship quality.
The first level is and always will be the stranger.
Strangers are simply people that you don’t know. You don’t recognize their faces nor do you really recognize their presence. In most cases, you don’t even see strangers again and if you did I’m sure you wouldn’t know. Strangers are the most interesting of individuals as they are people full of possibility.
The second level is the associate.
An associate is someone you know of but not deeply about. They don’t hold much conversation with you and neither you with them. You may know each other’s name, but it’s likely that you don’t. Your faces are familiar and you pass one another frequently. You give an awkward, fake smile although the gesture remains genuine. Associates can be developed in almost any place: school, work, around the neighborhood, the morning bus you always catch or the bookstore. Associates are the easiest form of connections to make with people. They aren’t unimportant, but you wouldn’t go on a limb for them. You have a mild understanding that you both "come in peace," so to speak. They’re the most distant of companionships next to strangers.
The third level of friendship is the most general: friends.
These are the people who have worked their way through the first two phases and established a stable relationship with you. These are the ones who did something at some point that made you interested in their existence or vice versus. They have established themselves as the kind of person you wouldn’t mind associating with outside of the place you met them. You exchanged numbers, hung out, and got to know one another. You’ve shared moments of smiling and laughter that encouraged you to wholeheartedly welcome them with open arms. You built and established a mutual agreement that a friendship had been formed. When the friendship gets really good, you may even be named an adopted family member such as cousin (cuz), sister (sis) or brother (bro). The beauty of it all is that it is never truly discussed that you are friends. It just happens naturally.
The highest level of friendship that can be reached is that of the best friend.
Your best friend, or friends, have gone through a special journey that no one else has. They hold a place in your life where trust is the ultimate principle to your relationship. They have seen you at your absolute worst and not judged you for what you may have seen. They’ve supported you in your success and backed you up whenever you needed a sidekick. They tell you the truth about yourself especially when you don’t want to hear it. If you call your friend and tell them you want to do something, they’ll tell you to go for it. Your best friend will ask you how they can help you reach your goals. Best friends protect you and will fight for you to the very death. They don’t ask permission to come to your house, they walk right in. Your mom considers them another one of her children, and of course, your best friend gloats about it. Sometimes you argue and as much as it bothers you in the moment, nothing could possibly come between you. Your relationship has blossomed to its full potential and is only anticipating for the rest of its years to be fulfilled.
All in all, we should be kind to everyone no matter where they fall in these friendship levels. If we smile at a stranger, there is a strong possibility that they will smile back. Being kind to our associates would likely be a positive memory they hold of us and our humanity could, unknowingly to us, brighten their day. Our friends will share our smiles with us and our best friends will enhance our smiles even more. Besides, we never know if we may need anyone or how they may need us.
