Friendship

"When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends."- Japanese Proverb There are many different relationships a human being will experience in a lifetime. For purposes of this post, let us refer to said human being as a female, from the South, with a traditional Southern family. This female will from birth, experience the mother/daughter, father/daughter relationship and quite often the sibling relationship (because most families have more than one child). The family bond is quite often a bond that is impossible to break. Soon there after, she'll become familiar with the extended family and the parents' friends. As the child grows, she is exposed to many different types of relationships day in and day out. But, one of the most important relationships the child is exposed to--that we as humans experience-- is friendship. As young ones, we have many "best friends" and often change our friends as quickly as we change our clothing! As we grow, we learn to value the benefits of having good girlfriends around, but can still find situations that can quickly sever the bond. As we reach adolescence and early adulthood, we begin to learn that not only those people we went to school with and worked with are our friends, but also those people we've known since birth--mothers, fathers, siblings--are great friends, too. We also learn that popularity is not important when choosing friends-- that friendship is more than giggling and playing together (whether it be on the playground, or later in life, at the bar). Friendship is waking up in 3am and listening to the heartbreak of a late night fight. It's being able to go somewhere without worrying about makeup or what you're wearing--because you're loved for who you are. Friendship is confidence, support, reality, strength; it is the words you seek (and don't seek) and the silence that relaxes you. It's sharing a favorite tv show, a favorite movie, a favorite book...sharing stories and experiences to help those loved ones learn from past mistakes/triumphs. Friendship is a life necessity. I thank God for my friends. Each and every day. "Hold a true friend with both hands."- Nigerian Proverb