“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.”
- Walter Winchell
Certain people in our lives stay with us for a long time. And other people come into our lives for a relatively short period of time. Due to circumstances or whatever the case may be, the close friendship we once experienced is lost. Often happening unexpectedly and at a times when we in fact need friends by our side, it can be a difficult situation to deal with.
This is not to say that short friendships are not valuable- in fact, they can teach us a lot and leave a powerful mark on our life that greatly affects our future. Perhaps we even have an encounter with a stranger who changes our life forever- maybe not in the category of friendship, but certainly proof that quality is much more important than quantity.
However, for the sake of tough times, it is the people who stay by our side no matter what that we never forget. These people not only teach us a lot about friendship, but touch our hearts with their care and support. These are the people who accept us, in both our highs and lows in life. They see our true selves and love it, every step of the way. They help us stay strong when we feel like our world is falling apart and they encourage us on each step of our life journey.
Building a diverse social circle is important and enriching to anyone's life. It is valuable to connect with different people, who can each teach us something and help us to broaden our perspective. Having many friends is not a bad thing at all.
However, it is practically impossible to have many close friends at the same time. True friendship requires effort. We must show the people we care about that they mean a lot to us, and we must do this often. It can actually become overwhelming and stressful to try to focus on the number of friends we have rather than the quality of each relationship. We want something that is meaningful, we want our friendships to mean something.
Here is a quote by Kelly Osbourne:
"I say find one true friend to help you through the tough times."
Especially when times get tough, we cannot afford to spend time on fake friends- these relationships are exhausting and we should avoid them even when we do have the energy. Being selective and learning to set limits is a good thing!
Having one true friend during a difficult time, or at any time, is much more valuable than having many friends who are not understanding and supportive. The number of friends we have on Facebook or on our phones is not a representation of quality. Having one tight group of friends, or two or three true friends, or even one friend who truly understands and supports us is a representation of quality.
Ill admit it. Sometimes I prefer to go see a movie alone, rather then spending time with people who bring me down. It's not worth it. Period. Sometimes I want to do something and a close friend is not able to join me. Why should we stop ourselves from doing what we want just because others aren't able to join us?
Recently I have realized the value of true friendship- having someone by my side through thick and thin. This is something to be grateful for. Notice the people who you truly feel close to in your life right now. These are people to cherish.
Much love,
Julie
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