A very happy friendship day to all my readers. Thanks for supporting me through my writing journey. I am grateful to have a loyal following of readers who have always appreciated my work and inspired me to grow as a human being. In this article I will share some observations based on experience that may help you to differentiate between lasting friendship and temporary friendship.
We come across many people during different phases of our lives. Some people stay with us for life while some people only last for a short while. When we are in school and college, we make friends without being judgmental. There is no pretence nor expectation of anything in return. Such friendships are not need-based, they are feeling-based. Sometimes we find these friendships within the family in the form of siblings or cousins. Thus, these friendships last longer as they give you the comfort and freedom to be your true self. As life progresses, distance may come in such friendships but the bond remains close. This is the reason why when we meet our old friends, there is a feeling of belonging and love despite the distance. These are your friends for lifetime. You can call them at 3 am without hesitation or worry of being judged. You share your life, your problems, your dreams with such friends over a cup of chai (tea). The most important characteristic of such friendships is that they add value to your life and personality, they teach you life-lessons which stay with you forever and they are based on trust. These are the friendships worth cherishing as they stand by your side in good times and in bad times.
Then there are other type of friends who enter your life for a short span of time. They come in your life for a reason and when the mutual needs are met they leave. We meet these friends at different places and at different times. Sometimes we meet them at parties or shopping malls or at work or in the neighborhood or while commuting from one place to another. These friends enter your life out of a need for company, support in work assignments or simply to teach you an important lesson in life. Just because they won’t stay in your life forever doesn’t mean they are not important. We need to learn many important lessons while walking on the journey of life. Our family, teachers and our lifetime friends help us learn these lessons throughout our journey. Yet there are some things which we learn from our friends for a reason. God sends them in your life for a specific reason or a need. Once the reason ceases to exist or the needs are met, these friends say goodbye. We learn some of these lessons through pain while we learn the other ones through love. Some of these friendships do turn into friendships that last for the rest of your life.
Value all your friends whether they are need-based friendships, i.e. friends for a reason or feelings-based friendships, friends for a lifetime. You need both of these friendships to grow as a human being, to learn important lessons and to experience life. The most important virtue of keeping any relationship long-lasting is to develop the quality of forgiveness. If you let go of grudges and spread the message of positivity and love, you will always be surrounded by good friends.
On the occasion of friendship day, I dedicate this poetry to all my friends, new and old, for being a part of my life and for making my life beautiful by their presence:
You came in my life when I was barely able to talk and stayed in my life through all the seasons of life,
I learnt to laugh and cry with you, and that’s why you are my friend for life,
There were days when we got so busy that we lost touch and didn’t even call,
Yet you always remained in my heart as my most wonderful memory,
I met some other friends too while walking on my journey,
Some of them helped me learn, while some of them helped me earn,
Some of these friendships made me cry, but some of them made me strong,
Some of these friends became my friends for life while some of them said goodbye,
All my friends including the ones for a lifetime and the ones who came in my life for a reason,
Taught me the most important values that shaped my character and my attitude,
While wishing you all a happy friendship day and a life full of friends, I express my gratitude.
