I have discovered that in life you need people around you always. We were not designed to do things alone.
This month as the L.O.V.E topic resonates, I want you to keep it in mind that true friendship is not really found in those you party with, get the most excitements with. True friends are those who are willing to take you as you are.
As I have travelled through life, I have met different people on the way:
Second class
- Those who manage me because they didn’t find anyone else
- Those who want me for what I have
- Those who were indifferent
- Those who couldn’t stand being around me
- Those who just need me to carry out their plans
- Those who want me for what they can turn me into
First Class
- Those who feel I am an answer to their prayers
- Those who see in me what could not see and would do anything to get me to see and become
- Those who love me just the way I am
- Those who just cherish being my friends
If you are in anyway similar to me you may have met one or two in the above categories.
As you continue your travel through life, for another decade or would you prefer a century, remember that you need true friends.
Take some time to analyze your friendships. The people you hang out with the most. Those whose comments and ideas make you move or shrink. Are they in the first class or in the second class?
It’s normal to have friends in both classes however, depending on the kind of person you ar- you may be strong internally; that you are still able to move when friends discourage you. But if you are the kind that feels scared to be wrong before others, you must work hard to not allow the second class friends dominate your activity or inactivity.
Don’t spend all your time managing wrong friends. Those whom you hang out with definitely have a huge say on whom you turn out to become.
Good for you if you are reading this as a child, teenager or single because you work on your friendship skills now. When I was a child, I thought older people just made a big deal out of issues surrounding love and friendship but now after different experiences, I can truly say that I see better now.
L.O.V.E is a major topic and we all get it wrong in one way or another in the early part of life. So before you say I do to a person, a career or a business opportunity, try to check very well is they fall under the first class or second class.
You need at least one true friend in order to successfully live a purposeful life. Don’t settle for wrong friendship, look for it every day but much more than that, you be a true friend to another person.
“A true friend accepts who you are, but also helps you become who you should be” – Anonymous
Here are a few things you can do to be a true friend to another person.
As a child,
these do:
Look for a good kid that seem not to have a friend to play with, find out something good about them each time you see them and tell them to do it more.
As you grow, your friendship might change, if you have to chose friends based on whether they help you develop or if they help you have fun, chose the first over the second because you will soon find out there are many who can help you have fun but those that help you develop are a bit harder to find. Start early.
As a teenager,
consider these:
who do you regard as your best friend? Have you noticed some improvements in you since you met them?
Did you know that getting life right as a teenager is a big plus for success in life. Learning a culture of reading books and learning from seniors is a good thing if only you can cultivate that now. Start now.
As a single,
consider these:
No matter how good or bad you may think you are, you were actually made good, so find the good in you and stick to that knowledge of you. Do it as often as you can.
Your best friend must not be someone you are settling for, he or she must be a person that fits more in the first class than in the second class above.
Be free to reveal the real you as you meet people from now on and dont be quick to give up on someone until you find at least 10 good things about them, even if they annoy you.
As a married,
consider these:
Discover something great about your spouse, one quality each week, tell them in as many ways as possible.
Listen carefully for the main goal your spouse has for this year and help them achieve it.
As you do the 2 above, carefully share your main goal this year with your spouse and show them how they can help you achieve this.
As a Senior,
consider these:
- Yes, I know you are wiser due to your experience, but try to carefully listen first to people before advising them.
- Someone around you now needs a true friend, look around for someone (in your family, church, neighborhood…)
So my dear friend, determine to help a friend achieve a goal this month. You will be wiser if you do.
All the best!