TRUE AND GENUINE FRIENDSHIP

Dear PointofLight, although belated in my acknowledgement, I truly enjoyed and appreciated your list of “Unordered/Chaotic Life Principles.” At its initial posting, I can recall reading the principles and feeling compelled to add another principle, that of “friendship.” I began writing this a while back, lost my track, and then recently became re-acquainted with my thoughts on it. As my words often do, they formulated another essay-type expression. My apologies, but here they are:

True, Genuine Friendship

What is friendship? Friendship spawns initially from an attraction to familiarity or recognition of desirable qualities in the other. There is a mutual desire for companionship, discovery, and perhaps a common bond shared. As we know, often friends share likes/dislikes, interests, pursuits, and passions. It is a kinship.

"True and genuine friendship" involves:

A shared sense of caring and concern--- a desire to see one another personally grow and develop, and a sincere hope for the other to succeed in all aspects of life.

Accountability--- revealed in the forms of loyalty, encouragement, support, and dependability… all offered unconditionally.

Acceptance--- acceptance (and love) of who they really are, of who you are, and acceptance of the role each contributes to the friendship. Forgiveness of the inevitable human shortcomings as dictated by human expectations is an absolute.

Action--- doing for someone else while expecting nothing in return, sacrificing your needs at times for the other, sharing your innermost thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment, being willing to risk and share your “true self.”

Commitment--- commitment of time to invest not only in the relationship itself, but also in each other's growth.

Essential are: trust, faithfulness, respect, honesty, and depth.

True and genuine friendship involves freedom of choice.

Now, I’m sure many before me have already expressed these ideas, but I convey them from the forefront of my present mind. I wonder how many attain this in life? Does it truly exists? Is it an idealism? I believe it exists and is a gift contingent upon the true effort of each party toward their investments to cultivate and maintain ownership of it. Those who have found it are blessed.

JustMe97