When I was younger I would make “friends” like raindrops on a cloudy day, but as time progressed, and life started to make sense, a lot of those raindrops dried up and very few remained. Thinking back to those times, I realize that people are a dime a dozen, but actual friends are hard to find. A good friend is someone who has your best interest at heart, is with you through thick and thin, and appreciates your presence as much as you appreciate theirs. Friends are selfless people who don’t bestow judgement upon you because of what you do, but rather they understand you because of the content of your character. Life can sometimes feel like a wasteland of problems, but having an honest circle of real friends can make it considerably easier to traverse.
A true friend would never lead you astray, because they want to see you win as much as you would want to see them win; they have your best interest at heart. They are motivators when you need a boost and consultants when you need advice. There are those who claim to be your friend, but abandon you when your situation isn’t beneficial to them. Those people are those who one you should avoid, but it’s hard to determine who they are, as they always show their hand at the worst times, but considering the scarcity of selfless people in this life, it isn’t too difficult to ween the friends from the foes beforehand. Sometimes the direction one decides to take in life is chosen after careful consideration of their friends suggestions. To give someone that type of power over your life is a very trusting gesture and one would want to have trustworthy people in that position.
Sometimes in this life there are times that you may fall below your standards and experience a not so prosperous stint of unfortunate circumstances, and in these times we look to the people that are closest to us for support and comfort. Real friends are those who are easily reached in these hard times. One will find that the people that they assumed would come to their aid are the least available when it matters the most. Though it is true that everyone has their fair share of situations and can’t always be the friend that they want to be, it is a show of true benevolence to forgo one’s own obstacles for the welfare of a friend. One would do well to eradicate those who do not value friendships. The smaller the circle the better, as too many acquaintances leaves too much room for snakes in the grass that is life. Relish those who stay by your side when you’re losing, for they will be the reason you start winning.
Having good friends in your presence gives a feeling of peacefulness that is rarely felt among people. It makes one feel comfortable, and although it isn’t always a good thing, it is a risk worth taking when you’re around trustworthy people. Be wary of those who are around you because of your situation, as they will prove to be very temporary in your life. The people that you surround yourself with says a great deal about your character as they are extensions of yourself, and unknowingly represent you everywhere they go. The people around will always be linked back to you, so surround yourself with compliments not insults.
We encounter countless people in this life, and I urge you to be picky of who you associate yourself with, as many people are just looking for a way to prosper of someone else’s work and very few are sensitive to the situations of another human being. Most people understand that you need great connections to get ahead in this life, and others try to, unsuccessfully, fend for themselves. No matter how resilient a person is, you still need to have a solid support system that fails you less than they lift you up, as you can’t expect people to always come in clutch, but trust them enough to keep you steady and vice versa. In essence, one should strive to be the friend that they expect their friends to be. Set the pace so that all can win the race.
