Friendship

Over the past five years or so, I have developed some new perspectives on what true friendship is. I have been blessed to have developed many close, connected friendships over this time. I have learned that the key, as with anything is to take responsibility for the friendship myself. I behave in the friendship how I want it to be. It doesn't work to just talk about it. I focus on maintaining a balance. When a friend is acting in a way that I feel will not support them, I let them know it. I tell them what they need to hear, not necessarily what they want to hear and I would want the same from them. At the same time, it's important to me to have compassion with my friends, to listen to them and let them know that I will always be there for them. I don't take my friendships for granted because I value them greatly. A friendship is for always, not only for when we need something from the other person. a friendship is to be nurtured when it is barren, not just when it is bearing fruit. As a friend, I also must be willing to accept when a friendship is not what it once was and be willing to move on when it is not supporting what I am up to in life.