Real Friends

Do you have some real friends?  I hope so.

We all have acquaintances and people we know, but what about real friends?

I’m talking about the kind of friend that you know you can count on, the kind that will stand by your side no matter what.  Those are hard to come by.

For me, my wife is my best and closest friend.  She loves me and accepts me just the way I am.  I also love and accept her just the way she is, even though she sometimes drives me nuts.  Oh wait, I guess that works both ways.

I also have other “real friends” both local and far away that I know would be there for me if I needed them.

Real friends have respect for one another.  Real friends respect each others boundaries.  Real friends do not try to manipulate or control you to get their way.  Are there people you know that have crossed any of those lines?  Be careful.  If you don’t address it, it will become easier for them to cross the line the next time.

Real friends care enough to confront each other in love when something is wrong.  A real friend may at first be upset when confronted, but will be willing to work it out and take responsibility for any wrong doing.  Real friends have healthy relationships with one another.  Are your friendships healthy?

If your friends don’t respect you or your boundaries, or they try to control & manipulate you, or they get upset and blame you when you confront something that is wrong, they may not be a real friend.

Do your friends encourage you to be your best, do your best and pursue excellence?  Or do your friends try to suck you into all of their drama and keep you in the same pit of despair that they are living in?  I hope they encourage you, because that is the sign of a real friend.  They care about you and your success and are not only thinking of themselves.

I encourage you to examine some of your relationships today and take a good hard look at who your friends really are.

Have an awesome day!