On Friendship

So, what does friendship mean to you?
Just curious, you know, I'm sure you've all got 'friends' out there...

I'm not talking about your *uck buddies or your pets, I mean, people you don't sleep with, or pet for that matter. Or people that tell you one thing but mean the other, or stand you up, or leave you high and dry when you need them the most. Or ones who 'use' you and 'abuse' you, and can't fully understand why you no longer want to be 'friends' with them.

I mean people you have conversations with, about life, about death, someone you can talk to when you have a stressful day, someone you like visiting the cinema with. Someone that doesn't judge you, no matter what. They've always got your back, and you'll always have theirs. And someone who no matter how 'busy' they are, could take a few minutes out of their day to say, "I love you...I miss you...you're such a wonderful friend". Or maybe just simply send something inspiring or sweet to say, I remember you...you're in my thoughts.

Do you have friends like that?
True friends?
Friends till the end?
Friends that'll tell you truth about yourself -- even if it hurts...

Hmmm....I can count my friends on my hands.
Got a whole heap on facebook, but that's a whole different ball-game, now isn't it? - hahah

Anyway, here are some sentiments by one of my favourite authors -- Kahlil Gibran

This comes from his book The Prophet & this one is entitled: On Friendship

And the youth said, Speak to us of Friendship.
And he answered, saying:
Your friend is your needs answered.
His is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.
And he is your board and your fireside.
For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.

When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the "nay" in your own mind,
nor do you withhold the "ay".
And when he is silent your heart ceases not to listen to his heart;
For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires, all expectations are born
and shared, with joy that is unacclaimed.
When you part from your friend, you grieve not;

For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain
to the climber is clearer from the plain.
And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.
For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of its own mystery is not love
but a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable is caught.

And let your best be for your friend.
If he must know the ebb of your tide,
let him know its flood also.
For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?
Seek him always with hours to live.
For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.
And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter,
and sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.


**Sigh -- Lovely isn't it?
Poignant and truthful... To have a friend like that.
Someone always true, someone that will cry with you, and laugh with you...
Someone to share secrets with and grow with. Ah, a friend for life would be nice! :))

!Jair