Friends are one of the biggest blessings anyone can have; they're not just there for being there, but because you share mutual bond, support, affection, respect, trust, and understanding. The saying "Show me your friend, and I'll tell you who you are" literally helps us understand that your friends are technically a replica of you in almost all aspects. Through the years I've been blessed with lots of wonderful friends, but when I think about how I acquired them, I can't help but stay in awe, and below I'd tell you why.I have a standard for those I can regard as my friends and many more.
You see, through the years I used to have this belief that I've a criteria and standards I laid down before I can regard someone as my friend, but after trying to wrap my head around how most of those I call friends today came to be, I can't help but realize that it's more like fate put us together, because left to me, I'd probably not have been friends with some of these guys, especially because most of them hurt me during our first encounters. In fact, to put it into perspective, the person I regard as my best friend today actually disappointed me twice during our first encounters, and that would have made anyone distance themselves from such a person, but as fate would have it, he's not just my friend today but my best friend, someone I trust without an atom of doubt.
But does those friendships happening by fate mean I just adopt anyone that comes near me as my friend? Definitely not. Regardless of the impact fate has in my encounters with people, it doesn't mean I'll go on to call or see everyone as my friend, knowing fully well what it means to call someone my friend. So that means I still have criteria that I laid down and expect people around me to have before I can call them my friend. One of which is having mutual ideology, respect, and views about life and sharing similar views when it comes to morals and values. So regardless of my best friend disappointing me during our first encounters, he ticked all of these boxes, and so when we had other encounters, it was easy for me to let go of the past and cling to him.
Talking about how I know if I've made the right choice or not, one is making sure they tick the majority of the boxes and making sure they don't possess or exhibit characters or behaviors I find disturbing or against my views about life. When this is assured, then I know there's no cause for alarm and I'm in good hands, the same way they're in good hands with me as well. I love having people who I can go emotionally with, be it in laughter or in tears; enjoy the social life with; and also someone who I can count on to help me in my time of need. The help could be with something as simple as a word. Basically, I need someone who cares, listens, stays by me, and accepts me for who I am.
All photos are mine.