“A friend is someone who is there for you when he’d rather be anywhere else.” – Len Wein
Why?
We talk a lot about love and relationships here at Give A Brick, using both words in the widest possible sense. Having thought a lot about friendship this week, I went searching for a beautiful friendship quote. I didn’t find a beautiful quote but this one from Len Wein seemed to encapsulate true friendship. Being friends isn’t about just hanging out, drinking beer together, telling jokes and having a laugh. Yes, that’s part of it and a great part. But you know your who your real friends are when they’re there for you, even though it’s a messy, unpleasant place to be.
What?
It’s time to start getting messy. You don’t want to be inviting mess into your life but you do need your friends to know that you’re there for them, unconditionally. It’s said that the best way to have friends is to be a friend. That’s why we’re starting this puzzle from your friend’s perspective. Start loving your friends how you’d like them to love you. If you’re already a great friend, fantastic. Have you got a little more love to give to someone else? Be on the look out for new friends, people who need you to get messy.
How?
Think about who your close friends are. When did you last speak to them? Or maybe yours is a relationship maintained via text message or Facebook? Whilst it would have been unheard of a decade ago, technology allows us to keep in contact with a lot more people a lot more easily. However, this also brings its own problems. It’s possible to be in contact with hundreds of people and yet still be horribly isolated.
Look at your circle of close friends and identify what you can do today to further that relationship. Do the running. Make the effort. Be the friend you’d like them to be. It will get messy but it makes life a lot more enriching.