Chock this one up to a hard lesson to learn. It’s hard to realize who your real friends are. But the good thing is, once you find them, they’re yours for life. So here’s a quick definition for those unfamiliar with real friends.
Real friends accept you for who you are and don’t try to change you. They try to help you even when you don’t want to listen.
Real friends consider your worries their priority. They give support when something makes you afraid or annoyed and try to help you overcome it.
Real friends don’t sit in judgment of you. There are enough assholes in the world that are more than happy to do that in the guise of a friend.
Real friends use words to reach you, not to get a deeper dig. They accept you for your flaws and realize that every once in a while you trip up.
Real friends accept your decisions and give you their loyalty, even if it pits them against others. This is especially hard in a small group where pushing someone to split loyalties will cause more harm than good.
Real friends don’t take advantage of a person’s good nature all the while stabbing them in the back. Favors aren’t counted because they are not necessary. Not so with the users of this world.
Real friends don’t deliberately say something mean to get their point across. They choose their words more carefully.
Real friends accept that a friend has every right to speak his or her mind without threat of retaliation. That everyone is entitled to their opinions even if they are not particularly popular.
Real friends don’t smile to your face then talk behind your back once your leave. They also do not put mutual friends in the awkward situation of having to listen to it.
Real friends like you for your strengths and love you for your flaws.
No association, no matter how well intended, is worth breaking the bonds of friendship. A person has the right to speak their mind about injustice and high-handed malarkey and not be attacked for speaking that opinion in her own forum.
This is for Nikki, Quinn, Heartless, and Blaze. I love you all!
Posted by gmwood at March 1, 2006 04:24 PM