It is important to have someone you can rely on, who will be there at all time, come rain or sunshine. Been stuck together through thick and thin is a testimony to the strength of once relationship. Having disloyal, insincere and untrustworthy persons around you can be so sapping and draining.
I have been around untrustworthy people, hurt and betrayed by my supposed friends, before realizing the fact that, they are just there for selfish gain, not for my good. I realized we were not friends all the while, I was the one who thought we actually were. Friends are suppose to have your back, be there when you needed them the most, be supportive and selfless when need arise.
However, a lot of people don’t know what friendship is or they know but their own greed won’t let them live true to it. Friendship is the state communal relatedness, and an emotion or conduct of agreed relationship often with like mindedness.
I have been in cycle of people who don’t value me, who thought I’m not their league, who didn’t see me for me. In like vein, I’ve decided not to go for less, if I must be friends with anyone, then I should love the way I love them and stick by me just the way I am with them. Aristotle said that, “With true friendship, friends love each other for their own sake, and they wish good things for each other.”This kind of friendship, says Aristotle, is only possible between “good people similar in virtue,” because only good people are capable of loving another person for that person’s own sake.
Recalling how I met my bestie at my sister’s wedding. It started at the reception when I was ordered to ensure he sees food, which I did, on the table there we got talking, there I discovered we have a lot in common and are compatible. Compatibility matters a lot in any relationship. we’ve built trust over the years and have learned to respect each other regardless. The recognition of similarities and respect for our difference formed the basis to our compatibility. We don’t regret knowing each other, why? Because a friend who devotes his time to bonding friendship you both share is more important than gold.
A friend is someone who knows, understands and can as well vouch for you behind your back. One who respect your decision on issues, and point out your wrong with constructive criticism, and is kindhearted will be bone to your and always be needed and relevant to your or our space. friendship goes beyond just hanging out.
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) said “The language of friendship is not words, but meanings.” it is having just that one truthful person in your life.” Having an amazing person can make the difference your life need. Someone who will have an impact in your life, like my bestie who taught how dependable and self-reliance.
Les Brown said, “practice OQP, only quality people. They’re people who can take you to a place within yourself that you can’t go by yourself.” When you failed and become confuse, discourage and feel like giving up, friend will revive the dying hope, inspire you and motivate to never think of you’re a failure see giving up as option. They help boost your self-esteem and self-worth. These among others are important qualities of friend and you should watched out for in whatever relationship you’re going to develop. Because, it has helped me grow, inspired and impacted me positively.
Trust and respect are the key component of a strong relationship. It create a foundation for a healthy and supportive relationship. It takes vulnerability to build trust and respect with someone. You may wonder if there’s conflict free relationship? At all, there’s none. You’ll issues, misunderstanding, conflict which poses challenge to friendship and could be sometimes tough till you might doubt your friendship worthiness. But you develop strategy of humility that makes you vulnerable to each other in order to whether the storm and stay pretty consistent to the relationship.
The experience I’ve gotten in my perceived vulnerability with my bestie has made me stronger and changed my perception of life and how I approach other relationship as well. Above all building a strong foundation of mutual support and care in your friendship is essential to keep it sailing. Woodrow Wilson said, “Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together.” There was a time when my bestie really needed a shoulder, he was going through heartbreak and hurt, I for friendship sake avail myself throughout his trying time. I supported and encouraged him to hold his head on and be strong. In emphatic responsiveness, I became hurt in his hurt. I wore his shoes and felt with him, demonstration of true friendship.
Conclusively, Marcus Tullius Cicero said, “friendship improves happiness, and abates misery, by doubling our joy and dividing our grief”. Sharing both sad and Happy moment count in friendship. Don’t be discouraged by what wrong persons has done to you, stay on track and be the true friend needed to keep world order of peaceful coexistence.
– Amanyi Rhoda
Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, Kogi State
