What Does “Friend” Mean?

[CrusadingAvenger]

What does the word “friend” mean?

Generally speaking, we’ve used this word
so loosely that we lack an understanding
of the true definition behind this word.

Growing up as little kids in school, our teachers
would tell us that everyone in our class is
all friends here, but are they really your friends?

Because no one ever taught us the true
meaning of what it means to be a friend to
someone, we have a skewed definition of it,
and it plays out as we get older.

We complain that it’s hard to find real friends,
how other people are superficial, yet we’re
the ones that are superficial ourselves.

We often say to people that we have a lot
of “friends” and we even spend so much time
attempting to be a friend to someone.

However, out of all the people you call your “friends,”
how many of them are actually your friends?

Let me tell you what the real definition of a friend is:

A friend is someone who you can openly talk
to free of judgment and without ridicule.

A friend is someone who inspires you to do better
and adds value to your life rather than talks about
themselves or complains a lot about how bad everything is.

A friend is someone who truly cares about you
and supports you all the way through even if
the path you are on is different from theirs.

A friend is someone who even after you have
conflicts regardless of whatever it is, that person
will reach out and work things out with you.

A friend is someone who you trust with your life,
you’ve established that rapport, that connection
over time. You’ve had your fights, your disagreements,
but you both worked it out through it all, and came
closer together because of it.

A friend is someone who will be with you
until the end of the line no matter what.

So let me ask you:

Who are your real friends?

Who fits the definition I just described to you?

Spend more time with those people.

Understand that not everybody is for you,
and that’s okay. Only devote quality time
to those who make you feel good in their
presence, who add value to your life, who
genuinely cares about you and makes time for you.

Stop giving so much quality time to the casual
relationships that will most likely never go
beyond the superficial level.

We were never taught what it truly means
to be friends with someone, so while it’s not too late…

Start being more mindful of who you choose
as your circle of influence.

More importantly…

Be that kind of friend that you want in your life.

[Ennui.]

This is the truth! Sometimes I even call people “friend” instead of “acquaintance” when describing them to someone.

[CrusadingAvenger]

I personally think you can only call someone a friend when that connection, that bond is properly developed over time.

[Arabesque- golfing girl.]

Thank you for this. It was really good!

[CrusadingAvenger]

Cool, glad to hear.

[Celyn]

I loved this! I've definitely struggled with friends over the years and definitely want to put more effort into worthy friendships

[CrusadingAvenger]

Happy to hear it! I think everyone at one point has struggled with friends, knowing who to spend more time with and who to cut out. I've said this in my other writings, but if there's genuinely something there, it will naturally develop over time, whether that'd be a romantic relationship or a friendship.

What I see happen a lot is people spending more time with people who don't even want to give them a single minute, and they're spending less or hardly any time with people who genuinely will make the time for them and develop a good relationship.

[Sportegan]

How exactly this is written, I added to my page on the social network, thanks!

[Dawn.]

I've begun defining people as a good friend, friend and acquaintance as well. Makes my life so much easier.