THIS THING CALLED FRIENDSHIP

I was lucky enough to receive a phone call from a close friend last night.  Lets call her "Charlie" for the sake of this discussion.  Now Charlie is someone I talk to maybe a couple times a year, and see about just as often.  The wonderful thing about our friendship is that no matter how long its been, or how far apart we are, we pick right back up where we left off.  Today it got me thinking about how fortunate I am to have her as a part of my life.  It also got me thinking about some other wonderful people that I have met throughout my travels.  They make my life so joyful, and I found myself asking if I am the type of friend to them, that they are to me?

What is friendship?  We have all sorts of people that we call friends.  Are they really our friends?  How many times have we referred to someone as our friend when in all honesty they are nothing more than an acquaintance?  What pushes people into the "friend" category?  I've done some thinking about this all day and just thinking about the people closest to me has uplifted my spirits.  This is what I believe a friend is:

A friend is someone that knows all of your insecurities, your weaknesses, your flaws, and despite all of that, loves you anyways.  I know it is so easy to say that you have nothing in your life to hide, but in real honesty, most of us are uncomfortable letting someone see the "real" us.  It's not that easy to let someone see your fears, your hopes, and sometimes your dreams.  Lets face it, the majority of people in life are going to judge you.  I know I'm guilty of being judgemental at times.  I think we all are.  I think being aware of it (which I am) is the first step to preventing it.  It's not an easy thing to let somebody into that deep place of your most private and innermost thoughts, due to the judgement factor.  How many people have you actually let in to see the you that you really are?  Let in to see that side of you that you're afraid of showing to the rest of the world?  We all have our insecurities, whether it be, our weight or size, our height, the fact that we have freckles, our lack of finances, that we're not smart enough, pretty enough... etc. When I think of someone who knows every one of the insecurities I have, but likes me regardless, I think of Charlie.  She has been there through thick and thin and has seen me at my absolute worst.  Never judging, and always accepting.  When I think of Charlie, I think of serenity, of belonging, of love.  What a gift that is. We might not speak often but she is always in my heart. 

Now friendship isn't always about being there in times of sadness or grief, insecurities or longing.  A friendship is about sharing the good times as well.  A true friend is the first one to be there to celebrate our successes.  Never with jealousy, but with a glad heart.  An open heart.  Now Charlie... Charlie is great at everything.  In a girls world, I technically should be jealous.  Physically, she's gorgeous, (by the worlds physical standards).  She masters everything she attempts (with ease) and she's as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.  The best thing is, I can't find one ounce of jealousy in regards to her.  I am so happy that I have her as my friend.  I definitely won the friend lottery the day we met!  Anyways... great friends bring out the best in each other, they know your strengths, and you know theirs, each striving to let the other person shine.  A friendship is a partnership, a give and take relationship.  It's being equals.

The best thing about this is, that Charlie isn't my only friend like this.  I have met some wonderful women on my path to wherever it is I'm going.  Each enriching my life in different areas by bring such unique qualities and talents to the table.  I feel so blessed that I have been able to meet each and every one.  Friends come from the most unexpected places.  They are my co-workers, my family, people I've met in the most random of situations.   All I know is, I take a piece of each and every one of you with me everywhere I go.  For those of you who are my true friends, I want to thank each and every one of you for inspiring me to be the best "me" I can be.  If there is one thing I can hope for, it is that somewhere down the road, I can do the same for you!