What is Friendship?
I’m writing this article based on my own opinion AND researched information.
A friendship should be based on mutual respect. It’s equal like everything in that friendship relationship as much as possible. Sometimes someone is not capable of doing something. Not by choice. When a friend continuously lets you down knowingly when you need support emotionally or practically it’s time to start wondering if they truly are your friend and care as much as they say they do.
Friends share a part of themselves that they don’t share with others, not like a romantic relationship but still on a personal base. If your conversations with each other are usually pretty one-sided and the other person barely shares anything about themselves that does not necessarily mean that they are not your friend. Some people are just like that. Not even on purpose, it’s just how they are. Others share a lot easier and perhaps may seem like too much. But that too doesn’t mean they are not your friend, they may just have more on their tab then you do.
Listening and being there for the other person for a reasonable amount of time is what friends do for each other. A friend doesn’t let another friend sit in the dark when they can be there for the other person. When you constantly are being told they have no time and they do have the time to spend with their other friends you may wonder too if they really appreciate you as much as a real friend should.
Other then the need friends have for each other based on their friendship friends usually like to hang out together and make time for this for each other. People who have a busy life with their work and their wife or husband and kids obviously would have a lot less time to share then a single person without a job. Take that into consideration.
Friends support each other and motivate each other into succession and if possible even help each other succeed in what they are trying to achieve.
In short, a friendship should be based mutual in respect and effort and time and friends should be considerate of each other’s situation in my opinion. No one should struggle alone when they have a friend who cares about them.
Don’t forget your own actions either, have they reached out to you maybe and gave you let them down by not giving home all the time? Maybe you have been so busy with things that you didn’t notice their need for your friendship.
Perhaps they don’t know they let you down and just an honest conversation with them may clear the air and save your friendship. In all relationships, it’s not the words being said that matter the most. It’s the actions you take that carry the most weight.
Last but not least don’t let anyone think you are their friend by telling them you care about them and love them and then knowingly keep letting them down when they reach out in times of need. That really hurts and to me, that’s a betrayal that can damage someone who is already suffering from low self-esteem even more. Be there for your friends and not only when it’s convenient for you. That’s what is called love and care.
Being selfish is ok but not at the cost of other people when there is no need for it.
