Friendship

Interacting with friends today reminded me of the importance of friendship and camaraderie. Relationships between people are to be valued. Friendships and camaraderie fills my heart with joy and love. I love interacting with people especially those who reciprocate. Friendship can be face-to-face or on-line. The feelings are the same (or at least for me). Although, I have to admit, face-to-face interactions do so much to nurture an interpersonal relationship such as friendship and camaraderie.

Friendship to me is the sharing of time and love with others; and others sharing their love and time with me. Friendship is interacting with others such that positive feelings are experienced by all parties involved. Wikipedia defines friendship as a form of interpersonal relationship generally considered to be closer than association, although there is a range of degrees of intimacy in both friendships and associations. Webster defines friendship as the state of being friends; it is the quality or state of being friends. Okay, that was helpful.

How would one describe a friend, friendship and friendliness (friendly) to a child. Friends are 2 or more people of any age who get along and play together. They support and nurture each other. Sometimes friends cry on each other’s shoulders. Friends do many activities together like talk on the phone, visit together, eat together, exercise together, basically have fun and a good time together. Togetherness is key. Often friends have common backgrounds and have similar interests; but, it is not a prerequisite. Friends may admire the differences in each other.

You may be great at sports and very athletic and your friend may be great at crafting items and planning great parties. Friends can lean on each and learn from each other. Friends often know the right thing to say or do when you are down. Friends generally are good listeners. Occasionally a friend might say the wrong thing (open mouth, insert foot); however, friends are quick to forgive each other. Most of all, your friend cares and loves you. Friendship is a form of love we have for our fellow human beings that is closer association than just recognizing a face. Close friends know each other’s hearts and deeply care about your entire being.

A friend is one that is attached to another by affection or esteem. A friend is a favored companion. Friendship, amity, benevolence, brotherhood, charity, cordiality, fellowship, goodwill, kindliness, kinship, neighborliness are all related words. How can one be a friend? First of all, I believe you need to be open and loving. You need to be able and willing to give of yourself completely to another in the way of time and support. You need to be sincere and genuine with yourself and others. Honesty, trust and faith play a role in friendship. One needs to be truthful!

I believe (most) dogs are great model for demonstrating friendship with their innate friendliness and loyalty. Loyalty is a good quality among friends. Friendship is important between husband and wife / boyfriend and girlfriends. Our friends can define who we are. Birds of a feather, flock together. Your best of friends are there when you are in need. (A friend in need is a friend indeed.)  You may also have fair-weather friends who are there only when things are going well in your life.

I believe friendship deeply depends on what you put into it. We are all connected, so why should we not all be friends? Being nice to one another costs nothing; but, the benefits are fabulous that start with our own hearts. I believe it keeps us positive and uplifted. Love and kindness (and friendship) keeps us in higher energy. When I think about others first, it brings joy to my heart, even more so during those times when I have let go of expecting something in return. I know I am able to be there for my friends and that is all that matters to me. This brings me joy and happiness.