Friendships

I am of the opinion that none of us have any "friends"..., by definition. Rather, we have a lot of acquaintances. We just enjoy being around some of our acquaintances more so than others.

...shouldn't a true friend be willing to die for you.

 

During my military days I became close with a guy and his wife. We kept in contact for many years after our discharges.

He went on to retire from NYPD and "enlisted" in the Wiccan cult. He finally put a cussing on me about the Lord in that the Greeks had many gods so my one God was old fashioned. We haven't been in touch now for about 25 years.

The second closest acquaintance I ever had died in 2005, the effects of from Agent Orange. Ron was like a brother. He was of the Catholic faith. After being hit in Vietnam he claimed to have had an out-of-body experience and as such, he knew that he was "saved".

Social media and cell phones can become addictive, just as this forum board can. We all like to see our name in lights and we all crave attention. ...doesn't say much for us, does it?

 

What is your definition of a friend?

 

Firmly disagree.

 

This feels like one of those math problems you would get in high school. The only answer that ever worked was D. Not enough information to solve.

 

What is your definition of a friend?

Rolf, my definition in today's world is probably much like your definition. The point I am making is that we use the word "Friend" very loosely. Here a friend, there a friend, everywhere a friend, friend.

Not so. ...a true friend would die for me. I would definitely attempt to defend someone I knew and were fond of..., but would I die for them? Would you? As for me, I don't know.

 

The world has redefined what friend is supposed to mean. People are under the impression that the relationships you have as a child, through college perhaps, are supposed to follow you through life and define you. That is all well and good if you never marry, however, your spouse should take that roll once you agree to be wed.

I have friends that my wife and myself refer to as family, but they are still just friends. She is my best, and only true, friend that can be counted on through thick and thin until death do us part. I have seen people who allowed a close friendship to end marriages, not necessarily though opposite sex friendship and/or adultery. Close friends can get, and cause, jealousy and fighting that will destabilize a relationship when they take the place of the spouse. Girls nights out, guys nights out, etc., etc.

I also don't recall my parents, or any other adult I knew growing up, having this kind of issue. Divorce rates were a lot lower then as well. Just sayin'.

 

I have always been one that has just a few friends. I learned really early on that I could only emotionally handle 4 friends at most, because I put so much time and energy into my friendships. Since I was in High School I always had one friend that lived far away which made it more of an investment since you have to be intentional about keeping those friendships alive. Although that practice did come in handy since my before my husband and I got married he and I were in a Long Distance Relationship.
Now that I'm married, my husband is my best friend, and I have 2 other girl friends who live out of state. One of them I have known for almost half my life and we have been through so much together that I see us always having some kind of tie together. The other I met back in 2011 in NY but she and I clicked and have stayed close.