…is to be one. How do you want to be treated by potential friends? When you answer that, do that for others. If you want to be respected, be respectful. If you want someone to keep your secrets, keep theirs. Open your ears and not your mouth.
I think there are a few stages of friendship: Acquaintances, Situation Friends, Plastic Friends and Real Friends.
Acquaintances are, of course, the people you see on occassion. You make chit chat when you see each other, but it never really develops into anything new.
Situation friends are the one you see at work, church or other routine type settings. Those friends are ones you might have a great time with, maybe even share some of your personal issues with, but you never really hang out outside of the fixed environment.
Plastic friends are the ones that are only your friends when life is good, but they turn on you when things go bad. They may like you and shmooze you for what they can get from you, like social status for example.
Then, there’s the real deal. Your Real friends are there for you and you for them no matter what. I’ve been blessed with some real keepers. They’re the kind that even though we haven gotten a chance to keep in touch for a few months, when we talk or meet up, it’s like there was no lapse in time. They are encouraging and inspirational. They laugh with you when you’re being silly..and sometimes laugh AT you, but you don’t care because you know their just messin’ with you.
I encourage you to BE a good friend and you’ll find you’re never alone in life.
I too am blessed with some real keepers, and you are one of them.