Who is a friend?

It is interesting to watch people's lives and we often enjoy talking about other people. But until we reach out to another person, we never experience that person for who they are. It is not always easy to be friends with another person. That person is not me and may never be like me.

In any friendship, we run the risk of rejection, of not understanding the other person's temperament, of disagreements. We often have our own baggage, we do not want others to think negatively about us, we cover up our weaknesses, we try not to reveal too much about ourselves. We are afraid of being hurt.

Until we overcome these barriers, the relationship is just that of mere acquiantance. I can say that I have many acquiantances but only a few true friends. Who then is a friend? Someone whom I am comfortable to spend time with, to joke and laugh with, to whom I will tell my opinions, to share my dreams and know that the other person will support me along the way, someone who will listen to me when I am happy and even when I am in the pits. It is someone that I am not afraid of, someone with whom I will not hide my tears or my pain. A friend is someone who accepts me for who I am and not expect me to be someone else.

Am I such a friend? If I were to rate myself, I will score very poorly though I try. I am lousy at remembering friends' birthdays, even though there is such a thing called technology that can help set reminders. Over the years, I have let go of many things that keep me busy. So, that when needed, I always have time for people. Just to sit down and chat, to listen, to do things for them. I am not the most interesting of people, sometimes boring too (maybe because I am an accountant or what they call a bean counter), but I can be funny and witty with friends that I am comfortable with. There have been times I have travelled the extra mile, but it was not recognised by the other person. Was it worth it? If I had done it out of love, then it was worth it regardless of the outcome.

A friend is a rare treasure, waiting to be discovered. Never mind the stocks or the real estate. A friendship is always worth investing in.