What Are Friends For?

A few nights ago, I went out and met up with a couple of good friends of mine.  And it has been some time since I met, or talked to some of them, and it was great that we were able to reconnect and share stories.

Met up, went to a place to drink, had the waiters turn down the music on the second floor since we were the only ones there (that and we’re getting old!).

I loved to hear their stories of progress, where they are in their lives, and what’s next, as well as telling them my story. All with a lot of good fun and jokes.  I met these guys when I was in high school, and by grace and luck, have maintained the friendship to this day.

As the adage goes, What are friends for?

They Provide A Support Group. True friends won’t demean you or beat you up. They’ll be there for you, in their own, personal, and unique ways.  With my friends, this is usually in the form of stories, music, and the occasional adventure or gig.  First time to gig at a bar? They’ll be there for you. Started a business? They’ll be there for you. Failed at business, not once, but twice? They’ll be there for you. Need to come up with a great birthday gift for your girl? They’ll be there for you.  Don’t know what to do with your life? They won’t know either, but they’ll be there for you.

Through thick and thin, good times and bad times, and what have you, friends will be there for you.

Be Voices of Reason, But Will Support Your Crazyness. When we’re lost, deep in thought, when we feel we’re in over our heads, friends will be there to help you make sense of what’s happening.  What might make perfect sense for us, might actually be just darn stupid and foolish.  Friends are there to call out your thinking and behavior.

But if it’s really something your crazy about, and although it might seem crazy for them, friends will be there to support you and your crazyness.  Sure, maybe it wasn’t the best idea to hold a party and a mini-concert aimed at getting a girl that doesn’t want him back anymore, but we sure as hell rocked the house and set the mood for them.

Informal Teachers. Different people have different experiences, and view the world through different lenses. What I love about my group of friends is the varied backgrounds and experiences we have.  We all didn’t study the same things, don’t work at the same place, and don’t share all the same hobbies.  This gives each of us a chance to share something new to each other, and there’s always something new to contribute when we get together.

In this group I most recently met up with, we’ve got a really great cook, an English teacher, IT expert, fitness buff, watersport enthusiast, operating room nurse, baker, furniture mogul, writer and counselor, great guitar player, macho photographer, money and investment master, backpack traveler, just to name a few of the skills and activities each one has got.  We’re always learning something new from each other.

Comforters and Challengers. Friends will be there to comfort you, protect you, and prop you up when the going gets tough. And friends also recognize that there are things you have got to do personally and that they can’t do that for you. They will challenge you to get straight, and get going. To get traction in places of your life that you want to get traction on.

I remember most recently, when around my friends, I see the progress they have made, whether large or small, and I got this feeling that I’ve got to get a move on in my life! That I won’t be left behind.  Hopefully you have friends that have great values and are hungry for success, because those rub off.

Healing Presence. And when friends get together, there is a certain level of comfort you share with them.  It feels great to be with a group that will accept you for who you are, with no judgments and reservations.  When in a tight spot, sometimes, just spending some time with friends will make you feel better, happier, and more confident to face your problems the next day.

Of course, this goes without saying, that these things are not only done and offered to you by your friends, but you, as a friend, will hopefully want to do these things for others also!

And as a final note, keep great friends around you, and maintain the friendship.  I too have been guilty of losing connections with people due to neglect and carelessness.

Sorry friends, I had some things to take care of, things I had to struggle with alone, for the moment.

I am only too sorry and apologetic for that.  Drifting away from friends you don’t want to lose is tough, so you have to put in the effort to maintain them also!

As for me, I consider myself very, very lucky with the people I consider as friends.  Thanks guys, I am eternally grateful.

So, what are friends for? If you’ve got a great idea or story to share, please post in the comments below!