The Search For A New Friend

At many points in our lives, we have all met people that we put into categories depending on our relationship with them. Some we may consider really good friends; some are like Thanos in our lives; and others, well, you just don't give a damn about.

There are certain individuals that I have met over the few years that I have been walking on this earth that I would consider remarkable friends. This is not because they are perfect; heck, I am not perfect in any way, but because of certain qualities that they have exhibited that have allowed me to appreciate them every time I think about them. As a matter of fact, I even wrote an epistle of gratitude just about a week ago, which you can read here, if you'd like...

This weekend, I am going in search for a new friend, and I think the best way to find the qualities I want in them is to reflect on the certain qualities I love about my closest friends now and just chunk them all together and create a sort of "criteria list." So if you are going to be my friend, please fall into these categories. _{Thank you}

ᴛʀᴜsᴛᴡᴏʀᴛʜʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴘᴇɴᴅᴀʙʟᴇ

I think this is something that is not in any way debatable for anyone. If I perceive a person to be shady or shifty in their behavior, I consider it a red flag.

Trustworthiness is a crucial quality I am looking for in a friend. A good friend should be someone I can trust to be honest and reliable and to keep my confidential matters safe. They just have to be dependable—someone I can count on to be there for me just when I need them.

ʜᴏɴᴇsᴛʏ

Man, I have been with people who are not honest, and I tell you, it's pretty darn frustrating. It's hard to factor in meaningful reasons to trust them when they are not even honest in the first place.

A good friend should be able to tell me the truth, even if it's something I don't want to hear. They must be able to tell me that I have done something unfair or that my shoes aren't clean enough and that I must correct the situation. This would sure help foster a deeper level of trust and understanding in our relationship.

_{PS: I do not wear ugly shoes...}

ᴋɪɴᴅɴᴇss

These, along with everything else here, are really important. I'd like to have a friend who is compassionate and understanding; someone who is always available to provide support and comfort when needed.

I get overwhelmed sometimes. I think everyone does feel that way once in a while when there's just a lot on their plates. And many times, I'd need to talk about them with a friend.

I am looking for someone who will be willing to lend a helping hand and to go out of their way to make you feel better when you're feeling down. We all need a shoulder to lean on sometimes. I need that friend to be that kind of shoulder whenever I do need one.

ɢᴏᴏᴅ sᴇɴsᴇ ᴏғ ʜᴜᴍᴏᴜʀ

I am the kind of person who loves humor. I joke a lot, and I love to laugh. I need this new friend of mine to be the kind that can understand and relate to jokes. This would make making friends with them effortless.

Having a friend who can also make me laugh and can help lighten my mood in difficult times will be so great. I need someone who can bring levity and joy into my life.

ᴍᴜᴛᴜᴀʟ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴇsᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴠᴀʟᴜᴇs

When you don't share significant amounts of interest and values, it's very easy to fall out of relationships.It could be anything, really. It could be music, school, work, or even Hive.

I have friends like @starstrings01 and @sekani with whom I share intricate musical tastes, and that has been a contributing factor to the growth of our relationships. I have some other friends that we met in school who share a similar interest in particular concepts, and that has kept us riding for years.

ᴏᴘᴇɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡɪʟʟɪɴɢ

There are certain individuals that it is very difficult to be friends with, not because they do not possess the aforementioned qualities, but simply because they are not willing to let themselves be loved.

It can be challenging to be there for a friend when they don't even want you there in the first place. They have to be willing to put in the effort to make things work as well. Relationships are two-way streets.

ɪɴ sʜᴏʀᴛ

In the end, what matters in relationships is having someone who will be there for me, support me, and genuinely care about my well-being.

I do hope to find a friend that I can rely on and that can rely on me as well—someone that we both can turn to for support and encouragement.

With these few, yet imperative qualities, there can be strong, lasting relationships between us that will provide the companionship needed to navigate this cubby called life.