Sally Love
I’ve been thinking about friendships recently: what makes a true friend? Why do we stick with friends that constantly cause us stress? Why do we remain friends with someone just because we have known them for a long time? Can you have true friendships with others when you don’t even have a true friendship with yourself? What aspects of your character do your friends bring out in you?
True friends can be hard to come by. So, what does make a true friend? Look up the word ‘’true’’ and you are given a long list of adjectives: real, genuine, sincere, spot on, valid, faithful, dedicated, loyal, devoted… What emotions do these words invoke in you? Is it a sense of feeling safe with someone, of feeling nurtured, supported, understood & respected?
It takes time to create true friendships. I only have a few true friends in my life. Maybe that’s because I have travelled a lot living in different places around the UK. I’ve now lived in the same place for nearly 3 years which is a long time for me! I love my home and plan to stay here for a while, but in order to do that I need to appease the gypsy in me by bringing more travel into my working and social life. So, yes, I’ve been thinking about friendships recently and realised that during the last year and a half I have let some relationships go un-nurtured. I allowed the stresses of life to get in the way … and I feel awful about that – it’s a ‘catch 22’: the stresses got in the way of having time for friends but if I had given time to my friends, then the stresses may not have been so challenging.
As a result, I am now very focused on nurturing my true friendships as my life changes into some new beginnings – which will hopefully bring busy fun times ahead. So, how much time do we give to friends? And I mean QUALITY time! Do you need to share your dreams, challenges, opinions and fears in order to truly connect with someone? What holds you back from opening yourself heart and soul to another?
How many of your friends only understand, know or relate to one aspect of you? Do you share different interests with different friends? How do those friendships impact upon how close you are with them– can they be a true friend if they don’t know all of you? Why do we feel we should get everything from one friendship or one relationship? Doesn’t that make us more stressed by putting so many expectations on others and on ourselves?
Food for thought dear friends!
Hi Sally
In my experience we have true friends and many acquaintances. True friends are people who you can rely on no matter what to help you in your time of need. I have met many people in my life who call themselves friends but when the chips are down they are nowhere to be found. I base my friendships on people treating me as I would them. I have been let down many times but still have my true friends who I make an effort to keep in contact with although they are many miles away. There is an unbreakable bond perhaps a soul mate connection with these individuals that will never die. Love and light
Katy XX
Hi Sally & all at 886,
Love & light to u all.
I was reading your blog Sally & listening to the live reading with Rob when I suddenly had a thought. There must be lots of us 886 viewers that would like to make friends with people who are interested in spiritual matters. So I wondered if theres any chance we could have a forum where like minded people can interact? So what about it Mr Producer?
Hi sally,
I have the same ideas as Chicabid26, my friends are not interested in spiritual matters at all, i think it would be great and uplifting to be able to interact with people who are interested in the spiritual side of things.
brightstarxx
Hi guys
Thanks for your input on my blog today. Yes, Katy – it can be disappointing when you think someone is a true friend as you go through a lot with them only for them to disappear over the horizon when you need them the most. I’m so pleased to hear this hasn’t dampened your spirit towards friendships. We do need to make an effort with our true friends but once we have picked up that phone (when we are feeling less like doing so because we are tired or too stressed), we feel uplifted afterwards and so glad we made the effort.
Chicabid – as I said on the show this morning, it’s such a great idea for you all to begin using these blogs to create new friends – I hope you three do just that and start a new trend!
Very best wishes
Sally Love