I have friends that come from all different backgrounds. Friends that are rich, friends that are poor. Friends that love the outdoors and friends that are city dwellers. Friends that mentor me and friends that I try to help myself.
The thing about all these different types of friends is that it’s been hard to find where I fit with them and more oever its been hard to find out which ones fit me. For so long I was always wishing that one group of friends would have everything I wanted in what I thought a friend should be. But when it comes to all my friends, all the things I want are spread out over different groups and different people altogether.
This used to get me discouraged because it was hard to figure out where I should be, who I should hang out with more and for how long etc. It was a mess and what I figured out was that it was downright selfish to be thinking in this way. It was also missing the point of community and the vast amount of people you can have in it.
I began to realize that how it was set up was actually amazing. I got to be friends with people from all different walks of life and while they didn’t have all the things I wanted in a couple of friends, they had some plus new things I never thought I would enjoy being around. They have taught me so much about what it means to live a full live and be out there actually living.
The beautiful thing is when you mush them all together you realize you got everything you wanted in friendship and even more and in doing so I have noticed just how lucky I am to have all these people come into my life.
Ever since this, I have let my pre-conceived notions of what a friend looks like fall away and I’m doing my best just to be open to any person that is willing to hang out with me and share a little bit of themselves. Because the more friends you have in your life, the better perspective you have on the life you are living and the better chance you have at living a life that is worth it.
So again, just like my post on family earlier. Are my friends exactly what I had hoped for when I was growing up? Are they even the friends I had hoped for years back? I really don’t anymore. I don’t think I quite understood back then what is I wanted in a friend. But what I do have is REAL people that REALLY care and support me. Real Friends that are there for all the incredibly fun and crazy times and there when stuff goes south and things are hell.
Those are friends and I am lucky one because they allow me to be their friend.
