Unlike family, which is a relationship connected by blood or a love relationship that springs from emotional and physical intimacy, friendship is formed based on shared interests and experiences. It's a relationship that develops regardless of time and place across different types of people, and while it does not have the same type of commitment that a family or love relationship has, there are times when the bonds formed from friendship can exceed them, although it can also be as brittle as a fragile leaf.
This is due to the fact that, as individuals, we can have different views or opinions on everything, and at some point, those conflicting views may collide with each other, resulting to a crack in friendship. This can eventually ends up for the relationship reverting back to stranger status if they are unable to sort out their differences.
For example, I often see people who are friends with each other, whose relationships suddenly turn sour during the election period, after knowing that they are voting for different candidates, which I honestly don't understand why it becomes a source of conflict, as people should be entitled to who they want to vote for, and it's not as if they get anything for forcing their candidates to others. Or maybe they will, but I don't think that is enough reason to break their relationship. In this situation, the relationship can be easily repaired if both parties can adapt and find ways to coexist even with conflicting opinions.
However, there are also situations where respecting each other's opinions is bad for the friendship. Like, if I found out that one of my friends is using an illegal substance and I tolerate it to respect his choice, that will make me a bad friend for allowing my friend to ruin not only his health, but also his life. Eventually, I will need to confront him, and our views will clash. Then, unless I was able to get my views through him, that will mark the end of our friendship, as sad as it is.
That said, the fear of losing a friend due to the difference in opinions should not become the reason why people would hide things, nor be tolerant of their friend's behavior, because you will eventually reach a boiling point where all the patience you have will be replaced with anger, and things that can be fixed through proper communication become irreparable. Or maybe, you will become a backbiter who's all good and innocent when their friend is around, but talks badly about them behind their back. That is not something I want from a friend, and I would rather have people confront me about things that they don't like about me. Yeah, we may come into an argument, but if we were able to properly sort out our differences, that will make our friendship stronger, and I think that is how people become true friends.
So, just like any relationship, maintaining friendship despite the difference in opinion can be done if we can learn to accept and appreciate each other's differences, but in order to do that, we should be open about things and communicate them properly with our friends.
Thank you for reading my post, and see you in the next one!
