10 reasons why...we need good friends.

Isn’t it strange how life moves? Like waves on the beach. Some days the tide is high, you are surrounded, full of joy. The next, low, barren stretches of dry callous days and sadness. But somehow, in the middle, they meet, blending the two so that the good days are tempered by the bad. The bad doesn’t seem so bad when happiness starts to rush over you again and again.

I felt that way today when a friend, albeit I haven’t talked to her in months, called me out of the blue. I’m not sad mind you, more resigned, but it was so uplifting to hear her voice. I have been keeping so much inside, things I can’t tell the people around me now, in this place. But when I heard her, all of those thoughts, feelings, emotions, rationalizations, came flooding out. It was as if she knew I needed to talk to her.

She got me to thinking and here are 10 reasons why, we need good friends:

1. Because they “get” you. – You could be like me, a little brusque at times, but really a bowl full of Jell-O when it comes to my dog. But they love you anyway.
2. Because you “get” them. – They don’t command you to listen to everything there is to talk about, about themselves. And because you love them.
3. They know when to be mean. – Pull yourself together woman/man! Now is not the time for a pity pot session.
4. They know when to offer a shoulder. – I’ll be here for you, whatever you ask. Except a six pack of beer and a box of cigs. ;-)
5. They don’t care where you live, what kind of car you drive, whose label is on your clothes. – Because that is not who you are, it’s only material possession. And friends like that, you don’t need anyway.
6. Your secret double life doesn’t bother them. – We all have them. Whatever dirty little secret you hold, they know, but don’t judge you.
7. They forgive your trespasses against them. – Not, oops I cheated with your husband type mistakes. More, I can’t believe I forgot to pick you up mistakes.
8. Goes without saying, you forgive them. – As the prayer says, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
9. They are not as weird, silly, serious, intelligent, crazy, confined or as loving as you. – They are the Yin to your Yang. Creating a unity of opposites.
10. They’re just as weird, silly, serious, intelligent, crazy, confined, and loving as you. – Like two peas in a pod, you fit just right together!

Well those are my reasons for having good friends. I don’t mean acquaintances, people drop in and out of our lives for a reason, but some we must hold on to, or hold on to us. So for all you friends out there who haven’t talked in awhile, pick up the phone and call, or send a text saying “hey thinking about you”. You will feel better for bringing your light back into someone’s life.

~Tet~