There are those in our lives whom we are closest to, and usually more so than our own blood. They may know of our deepest and darkest secrets, our fears, and our desires. They may know what makes us tick, and what ticks us off. Some may be kept off at an arm’s distance, while others may be very close to the heart. These people are our friends.
It seems as we progress through our years, we meet people along the way, who appear to have something in common with us. It may be a small spark of an interest, or it might be that our personalities just “click.” Regardless, we make these connections, and we choose how close we want to get to them, or how much of our personal lives we feel safe to reveal to them. Some are labeled “acquaintances,” while others are put into the “good friends,” category. Then there are those special few that “make the cut,” and are destined to be “best friends forever,” or “BFF” as it’s now referred to.
Naturally, as time goes on, we start to “open up,” towards these people, because we feel closer to them the more that we are around them. We become presumptuous, and begin to push boundaries. We find out just how our sense of humor is tolerated by the other person, and vice versa. We joke and we tease, or we are the recipients of it. There are times when something will just flow like water down a duck’s back, yet there may be that one time that we’ve gone too far, and someone feels hurt. We’ve pushed boundaries, taken notes, and either taken care not to “go there,” in the future, or we use it as “ammo” for the future.
Over the years, we notice one of two things; either we get even closer, or we drift apart. At first glance, you might think that the more time you spend with someone, the closer you will get with them. In the beginning, this is true, because we want to get to know our friends better. Paradoxically, we may find that the closer we get to someone, the more uncomfortable they appear to make us feel. We start to distance ourselves from that person, lose contact with them, and they disappear from our lives. On the other hand, friends at a great distance may be intimately close, and their absence only makes our heart grow fonder of them. Our lives may not have compatible schedules, so we cherish the time that we do have with them.
Regardless of time and distance, they are the ones who have seen me go through it all, and have been there in some very emotional times. They know what makes me laugh, what makes me cry, what I like and don’t like. They know when I’m down and out, or when I can do something with more effort. They know when to welcome me, and when to give me some space. They also know that I’m not a perfect person, and even if I make a mistake, forget to do something for them, or vent on them during a bad day, I don’t truly mean it. They know that I’m only human, and don’t mind lending a hand when I am unable to do something. For this, I am grateful and always will be.
I may not always seem to be cheerful, upbeat, or excited to be around you, but I am. Even on the darkest of days, I’m glad for all of my friends. Thank you to all of you.