A question with infinitely possible answers, infinitely possible interpretations recently confounded the readers of my Question Series; Define Friendship. As simplistic that sounds, given a thought, many came to realize how much this word entails and truly displays your adaption of a relationship. Yes, as a few pointed out, friendship is a relationship. In my view, however, your expectations of a friend define the sense of relationship you end up developing with someone.
May it be family, the special someone, childhood inseparable attached to the hip buddy or someone you met today, you portray various degrees of attachment. I feel your top friends amongst these are the ones who take you for granted the most. A selfless outlook allows you to judge these relationships based off your contribution rather than theirs. Of course, not all of them will reciprocate with the same kindness, but will also end up losing one of their true friends.
You must be wondering about the title, The Mirror. It was the first thing that came to my mind, when answering the question. Something slightly different from any answer I was given on the series. The unspoken punishing judgmental anxiety of oneself, the discomfort at being deceitful that can only be triggered by looking into a true friend’s eyes, one no mirror can ever replicate, is the honest test of a friend of the highest degree. Unfortunately, for many, that may not lay in your parents, that may not even lay in that special someone, but perhaps an unbiased unattached stranger who you have come to know in recent time and yet are unable to lie to. Only such a friend is your mirror. He/she is everything right you look for in yourself.
I thank everyone who responded to this particular question. Its purpose wasn’t just to inspire this blog entry, but to allow you to reflect back on those who entered your life to never leave; Who left their mark by helping you in your tough times, rescuing you from a flat tire an hour away from home, by making you laugh, offering you the shoulder to cry on, by letting you be stupid, letting you be yourself and most importantly, by being your mirror.
As a response to a direct request from a very special friend, I’d like to incorporate another minor facet of what friendship has to offer. I was asked, what does one do to find the special someone? If you have dated multiple people, if you have felt love with more than one person, how do you judge anymore to find the one that will last a lifetime? After giving it some thought, I couldn’t imagine any other entry more apt to answer this question. Dearest anon, instead of trying to find love, why not try to look for this friend? I feel if you can reach such a comfort level, that surpasses one with anybody else in the World, then love is simply waiting to infuse.
I offer my humble appreciation to anyone who has chosen to read this entry. I miss you my dear friends. Please feel free to respond with your definition of friendship, comments, rebuttals or simply saying hello. If there was/were a few friend(s) that came to mind while reading this entry, they deserve to know that they were thought of. Do send them an email of admiration.
Love, Mo
