Let us talk about the friendships that you keep by first asking us profound questions. Do you pride yourself as someone who has many friends or do you pride yourself as someone who has meaningful friends? Can you genuinely say that you have friends who can help you when you are in real deep trouble? Are your friends seasonal, do they only come to you for help and when they don’t need you, you don’t get to see them? Can you seriously say that you have friends? We are told that we are a reflection of the five people that we hang out with.
The question that begs an answer is, who are you a reflection of?
Who is a friend? There are many definitions of a friend. Such as a person who you share affection with who is not a family member; someone that you share common interests with; someone that you can count on when in need; someone who sticks with you no matter what; Someone that you can hang out with in times of fun, sadness etc We can not exhaust the definitions of a friend. This word means differently to different people, so we will not dwell on that.
This article is not about who a good friend or a bad friend is. It is not about how to identify a good friend. It is not about the characteristics of a good friend. This article is about you. Yes, you who is reading right this second. Can you honestly say that you are a friend to someone?
I have been friends with so many people who have come across my path. Some of these encounters have been really beautiful and seasonal. For some we were brought together for a certain cause and during that time, we formed a closeness that was brought about as a result of that cause, as soon as that cause ended and so did our friendship. I have had friends who I realised I would remember them when am in need, I appreciate that they are the ones who would actually come through to me and they did. This is also something that I have experienced myself, people who come to me solely for help. We have no other common interest except that need that needs to be fulfilled at that time, when I am able to, I came through for them and for some I don’t. Such an experience, has taught me that it is not about what I gain from them or what they gain from me, it is about what I can sacrificially give as a friend when am called to.
Dear reader, when you think about it, are you a friend to anyone who might need you to come through for them in one way or another? There is absolutely no shame in not being able to serve everyone on your path. You are after all human with limited resources and abilities. It is also not practical for you to be a friend to everyone.
However, when called to, and you are in a position to help or be a friend do not turn someone way. When you are in a position to go out of your way, by all means do. You never know that you might be someone’s only hope, even when your resources are limited, you might need to give sacrificially.
Do it Happily.
“Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.” — Muhammad Ali
Ayaka Management Consultancy 