A true friend is
one who knows all about you and likes you anyway. A friend is someone who helps
you up when you're down, and if they can't, they lay down beside you and
listen. A friend is one who takes me for what I am. A friend is a hand that is
always holding yours, no matter how close or far apart you may be. A friend is
someone who is always there and will always, always care. A friend is a feeling
of forever in the heart. And if your friend does evil to you, say to him, ''I
forgive you for what you did to me, but how can I forgive you for what you did
to yourself?'' And the glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor
the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it's the spiritual inspiration
that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is
willing to trust him with his friend.
Do you reach
out to others rather than always expect that they will call or come to see you?
Do you reciprocate?
“When it hurts to look back, and you're scared to look
ahead, you can look beside you and your best friend will be there”
When you meet others, are you open to the possibility that
they may become future allies, confidantes, best friends?
“My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.” Henry
Ford
Do you
approach others with an attitude of acceptance and interest?
“The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift
of unconditional love and acceptance.” Brian Tracy
“Acceptance of others, their looks, their behaviors, their
beliefs, bring you an inner peace and tranquility -- instead of anger and
resentment”
“When you're a beautiful person on the inside, there is
nothing in the world that can change that about you. Jealousy is the result of
one's lack of self-confidence, self-worth, and self-acceptance. The Lesson: If
you can't accept yourself, then certainly no one else will.”
“Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only
with acceptance can there be recovery.” Joanne Kathleen Rowling
Are you a
good listener, or do you claim more than your share of the airtime?
“A good listener tries to understand what the other person
is saying. In the end he may disagree sharply, but because he disagrees, he
wants to know exactly what it is he is disagreeing with.” Kenneth A. Wells
Do you refuse
to become the only nurturer in the relationship?
One of the
greatest titles we can have is "old friend". We never appreciate how
important old friends are until we are older. The problem is we need to start
our old friendships when we are young. We then have to nurture and grow those
friendships over our middle age when a busy life and changing geographies can
cause us to neglect those friends. Today is the day to invest in those people
we hope will call us 'old friend" in the years to come.
“A loving relationship is one in which the loved one is free
to be himself -- to laugh with me, but never at me; to cry with me, but never
because of me; to love life, to love himself, to love being loved. Such a
relationship is based upon freedom and can never grow in a jealous
heart.” Leo F. Buscaglia
Relationships-of
all kinds-are like sand held in your hand. Held loosely, with an open hand, the
sand remains where it is. The minute you close your hand and squeeze tightly to
hold on, the sand trickles through your fingers. You may hold onto some of it,
but most will be spilled. A relationship is like that. Held loosely, with
respect and freedom for the other person, it is likely to remain intact. But
hold too tightly, too possessively, and the relationship slips away and is
lost.
Are you
loyal, and do you guard your friends’ secrets?
“A friend is one with whom you are comfortable, to whom you
are loyal, through whom you are blessed, and for whom you are grateful.” William
Arthur Ward
Do you
practice unsolicited acts of kindness?
Friendship is a
living thing that lasts only as long as it is nourished with kindness, empathy
and understanding.
Do you live
an authentic life based on your values and beliefs?
Living with
integrity means: Not settling for less than what you know you deserve
in your
relationships. Asking for what you want and need from others. Speaking your
truth, even though it might create conflict or tension. Behaving in ways that
are in harmony with your personal values. Making choices based on what you
believe, and not what others believe.
Can you ask
for and grant forgiveness?
"Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of
resentment and the handcuffs of hate. It is a power that breaks the chains of
bitterness and the shackles of selfishness. Friendship flourishes at the
fountain of forgiveness.” William Arthur Ward
Can you
listen when a friend tells you that you’ve hurt her, or do you withdraw or get
defensive?
A friend is
someone who helps you up when you're down, and if they can't, they lay down
beside you and listen.
“Friends are helpful not only because they will listen to
us, but because they will laugh at us; Through them we learn a little
objectivity, a little modesty, a little courtesy; We learn the rules of life
and become better players of the game” Will Durant
Do you
encourage other people to develop their strengths and graciously help them
overcome weakness?
“Our duty is to encourage every one in his struggle to live
up to his own highest idea, and strive at the same time to make the ideal as
near as possible to the Truth.” Swami Vivekananda
Other people may
be there to help us, teach us, guide us along our path, but the lesson to be
learned is always ours.
“It is better to keep a friend from falling than to help him
up”
Can you enjoy
a friend’s good fortune-whether in marriage, motherhood, or career-even if you
aren’t on a parallel track?
Happiness comes
of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to
risk life, to be needed.
“The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It
is not that we seize them, but that they seize us.” Ashley Montagu
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