I’m 43. Ack…
And I’ve had my ups and downs in friendship. The journey, mind you.
So I think I might be finally getting an idea on friendships. After all these years. You’d think I could have figured this out years ago, but alas, no. It’s taken me time to really understand the true value of friendship and how authentic friendships are truly a gift.
So here you go. Seven real truths about friendships.
1. Friendship isn’t an obligation, but is a gift. This. Sometimes friendships feel like more work then friends. They’re the moments when you don’t know how someone will respond. As soon as a relationship turns to an obligation – I did this therefore I expect you to do this – then the gift of the friendship is lost. Friendship shouldn’t be about worrying about waking a sleeping giant, but should rather be a place of safety, love, and honestly, trust. You shouldn’t ever have to worry about a friend and their trust or fulfilling an obligation to keep them happy. A friend loves you and your heart even if sometimes you don’t always make sense. They value you. Not always needing to “get” you.
2. Friends treat you with respect. I’ve seen this in the lives of those I care for. I’ve dealt with it – this treat you poorly, skeptical, mouth off moments and then the polar opposite and instead of ever changing the individual continues behaving that way. And for a long, long, long time I allowed myself to be treated poorly by constantly allowing the love/hate/love/hate cycle to continue. Then, one day, I realized that anyone who thinks that they can treat someone incredibly poorly or disrespectfully in one moment and then the next week treat you like you’re their bff isn’t really a true friend. In fact, at a certain point, it’s okay to step away and to value you and break out of the cycle. Friends make mistakes, yes. But constantly flip-flopping with the presupposition that because you’re friends you’ll deal with anything – well, at a certain point, the answer is no. I just told a friend that when a friend messages you and you have dread with opening the note then, then, that’s probably not someone you should align yourself with.
3. Friends don’t talk behind your back. For real. Friends defend you. Friends are there for you. Friends are the ones who you can call in the middle of the night and know that your words, your heart, and your emotions are safe with them. It’s such a critical part of friendship – this deep trust that was in point one. Speak well of your friends. Remember, those who gossip to you about others probably gossip about you. And, friends also respect your other friends and treat them well. Bottom line. In business we align ourselves with those who love the team. It’s the same with friends.
4. A real friend is one who makes you a better you. You know the phrase iron sharpens iron? Well that’s what friendship is about. I need my friends to tell me whoa whoa whoa girl don’t do that or that’s awesome or lets keep trying. Friends are willing to speak up and tell you the hard things. Friends are the ones who are there cheering you on and believing in you when you don’t know if you can do it. Friends love you for you. Plain and simple.
5. Friends don’t compare or compete with each other. Competition and comparison erode at joy and chip away at friendships. It’s easy to compare. I get it. Oh my word, do I really get it. But, here’s the deal, just like I talked about in the 31 Day Finding Joy Challenge — when we compare with each other we oftentimes aren’t believing the truth about being enough. It’s awesome that your friend is awesome at things — different things than us. That’s great. That’s what makes us stronger. When we live knowing that we’re enough, then we can support, love, and encourage those around us. That’s true friendship.
6. Friends are there for you. My dear friend Amy has told me that I can call her at 4am. I know it. I believe it. And if I needed to I would call her without hesitation. My friend Maria has dropped everything to come sit with me on those hard days. My friend Tracy drove to the Minneapolis Children’s Hospital to simply visit Samuel and me when we were there a couple years ago. Friends are there for you. That’s the kind of friend you want and should be. Be there for those who love, value, and cherish having you in your life.
7. Friends love you. For you. Not for being perfect. Or for having the perfect house (in fact, open the door and let a friend in no matter what your house looks like. And don’t apologize either. Just be you). Or for having perfect kids. Or perfect lives. Or any of that. Friends love you for you. For your quirks, silliness, up days, down days, and all of that. That? That’s a life gift.
Seven truths about friendship. What would you add?
Be a friend.
To all my friends – thank you. I love you.
~Rachel
ps….that’s one of my best friends, Maria, below. I wrote a great deal about her amazing gift of friendship, about the power of showing up in my book The Brave Art of Motherhood. Click HERE to get your copy. <3
19 comments
Friends never forget you, no matter what. They never truly judge you, they’ll get out of bed to help you out rescue you if you really need it, and they won’t even hate you if you make a different decision about any situation. Friends will always pick up wherever you all left off, even if it was months or years ago.
That’s what I’d add. Not that these weren’t covered, just that it’s the little things. Like when your friend drive to sit at the hospital with you… 🙂
Friends don’t ask permission. They just do it. They know the need without asking and they don’t ask you if you need them to do anything…it just gets done!
Friends understand when life gets crazy and don’t hold your temporary absences against you. They are there to pick up where you left off, no questions asked, no guilt given :).
Friends are the ones walking in the door when everyone else is walking out.
Friends tell you the hard truth. When you’re in a downward spiral or doing things that are glaringly and obviously wrong for you – they tell you. Then hug you and help you climb out of the pit you’ve dug.
No matter how far away you are they are still friends even if you don’t see or hear from them in awhile they are still part of you and in your heart always nothing changes friends❤️
I’ll be 40 in a little over three months.
I didn’t think it was hitting me hard, but I have come to realize it is. My best friend passed away 6 years ago at age 39. I think this is why. And, good Lord, do I miss her.
Friends ask good questions and listen to the answers.http
I would add, that friends don’t sleep with your husband behind your back. (And vice versa). It’s been a year ago now that I found out this truth personally. Thankfully I have money other “true” friends out there, my family & first and foremost Jesus to carry me through it. But still, it is so hurtful to be betrayed.
Oops…*many other good friends. (Not money) lol…stupid autocorrect!
This post was AWESOME. I’d like to add that real friends to ask anything of you that they themselves wouldn’t do.
I meant to say don’t ask, not to ask! Silly auto-correct!
I appreciated this so much!!! SO TRUE!!! xoxo!
True friends are few and far between! Once you connect with a true friend, cherish that friendship!
Friends will reconnect instantly… there is no measure of distance, time limit or need to first know even a single detail about life while they were out of touch…their relationship remains as if they have always been together
Friends are like gold you should always apreciate & treasure and inspire them
be who you are donot be someone that you are not, not to act like someone you are not just to please people you just met and want to be that person’s friend because you fear to show your characters or you were scared that you werenot going to be accepted for who you are knock it off “BE YOU AND ACT AS YOU NOT SOMEONE ELSE.”
friends are what you want them to be just act as you and see if you wont get them just remember to be free and make people around you happy,cheerful,and joyful and always strive to having good friends and always pray for your friendship to last longer as you wish it to last you can reach your DESTINATION.
friends are what you want them to be just act as you and see if you wont get them just remember to be free and make people around you happy,cheerful,and joyful and always strive to having good friends and always pray for your friendship to last longer as you wish it to last you can reach your DESTINATION and always treasure those moments.