What does a friend “look like” to me? The answer is straightforward and uncomplicated. I don’t want to have to scratch around in the background looking for my friends. Life is complex enough without taking on complicated personalities who are like hothouse plants … or disappearing lizards.
In time, a true friend is not hard to identify. A good friend has qualities that “go” anywhere and survive the circumstances — but not because s/he looks like what’s around her/him. S/he will stand out from the surroundings, whatever they are. You might say a true friend is like family, in the best sense of that word.
And while there is no perfect friend, here are a few qualities that are high on my list and which, over time, will show as the dominant traits of my friend — a friend toward whom I want to reflect these same qualities:
- Honesty — and truthfulness right along with it. There’s a difference.
- Loyalty.
- Courage.
- A Winning Attitude — not to perfection, because no one is truly always “up.” But I don’t need a friend who’s a negative energy drain, nor do my friends need that from me. I’m not a garbage dump and won’t treat my friends like one.
- Friendliness — with a SMILE.
- AND the ability to LAUGH … to enjoy a funny story, especially on oneself. If I have a friend who can laugh at herself/himself, I know I’m in good company!
Carpe diem. Vita brevis!
© May, 2012, by Michael E. Stubblefield. All rights to my original work reserved. Photo by Colin Houston (col.hou on Flickr).