avatarAnne Bonfert

Summary

The website content discusses the importance and value of friendship, emphasizing that friends are the chosen family who provide support, honesty, joy, and assistance through life's ups and downs.

Abstract

Friendship is likened to a chosen family, where individuals select those who become integral parts of their lives. The article highlights that friends often understand us deeply, offering honest advice and sharing in our joys and sorrows. They are a source of laughter and comfort, providing a listening ear and a helping hand during tough times. Friends are seen as trustworthy confidants with whom any topic can be discussed, and they play a crucial role in helping us recover from setbacks. The bond formed with true friends endures distance and time, with their presence in our lives being a cherished gift, akin to stars that are always there, even when not visible.

Opinions

  • Friends are considered to be akin to family, but with the unique aspect that we choose them to be part of our lives.
  • Honesty is a key trait of friends; they are willing to tell us difficult truths for our own well-being.
  • Sharing laughter and creating joyful memories is a significant aspect of friendship, contributing to our emotional health.
  • Friends offer unconditional support during hardships, helping us to regain our strength and motivation.
  • A good friend is always available, regardless of how much time has passed since the last interaction.
  • Friends provide a safe space for open communication without judgment, discussing any and all topics without reservation.
  • The shared history and growth within a friendship are valuable, with friends being likened to a family doctor who understands our nuances.
  • Distance does not diminish the strength of true friendships; they remain steadfast through life's changes.
  • Expressions of gratitude are extended to friends for their unwavering support and presence in one's life.
Credit: Anne Bonfert

Friends Are the Family You Choose

What would we do without friends?

Friends are part of our life. They are there when we laugh. They are there when we cry. They are there to help us get up after a fall. And they are holding us when we are celebrating. Friends are kind of like family. A good friend might know you better than your family. And a good friend definitely knows your family. A friend is like family. But we choose a friend. We choose him to be part of our life. We choose a friend to be part of our own family.

Friends are honest

Friends share all their stories with you. Friends talk about the relationships and the new partner in life. They tell you if you should keep this partner or not. Friends are honest. They will tell you right away if a person is not good for you. Because they only want the best for you. They want you to be happy. So if they see there is something not making you happy they will tell you to get rid of it.

Friends help us with the family. They are there if we need to talk. They are there to listen. But they also tell us if we are wrong and if we should just listen to what mom is saying. Because they have nothing to hide. And they know us best. That is why they tell us the truth.

Friends make you laugh

Friends will send you a random picture that will make you laugh. They will share a joke with you that nobody else would understand. They share countless memories with you. From all the time you spent together. All the parties you went to together. All the mistakes you did together. All those things that were embarrassing. Friends make you feel strongly about it by learning from it. They make you laugh. As much as they can. Because they know laughing is good for you.

And they make you laugh because they like to laugh together with you. That is their favorite time of the day. To have a good laugh with you.

Friends will always help you to get back up

But friends are also there if you are not happy. They will ask immediately what’s wrong? And won’t accept any meaningless answer. They will ask until you let out your feelings. Until they know what makes you sad, upset, or angry. They will ask until they know how to make you feel better again. They will work with you and build stairs for you to get back up again. They will help you to feel strong again. A friend is always willing to put out his hand for you to grab. To grab it and stand up again.

That is why we need good friends. To get the motivation to try again. To keep going and to find the right path in life.

A good friend will never close his door. He will always leave his door slightly open. For you to come in when you need to. Even if you haven’t spoken for a while. You can just walk into his house and curl up in his bed. Because if that is what you feel like doing you should be able to do it anytime.

A good friend will never tell you to stop crying. A good friend will tell you to let the tears roll. To let everything out. Because the bad has to come out. And then they will help you to leave all of that behind. To start new. To start again. Or just to continue where you left off because you had no more energy left.

Talking about anything and everything

With a good friend, you can talk about anything. And I mean literally everything. There is no such thing as you can’t say that. A friend will listen to any topic that is on your mind. Or heart. There is no such thing as I can’t tell you this.

Friends will talk about everything that you want to share with them. They will listen. They will do research if they don’t know anything about that topic or situation. And they will come back to you. A friend is like a family doctor that knows you since you were born. A doctor that knows exactly what is wrong with you if your eyes are darker than normal. Or you if you breathe harder than normal. And if he doesn’t know which medicine will help or doesn’t know what is wrong with you, he will send you to a specialist. Just like a good friend. Who will always do his own analysis on how to help you. But if he doesn’t know how to help you, he will bring you to someone who is able to help.

Sharing memories

I am sharing so many unforgettable memories and even holidays with my good friends. Those are the memories I think of when I mention their name. But I also think of all these moments when they helped me in difficult times. I think about the different times in my life when we became friends. How we changed since. And how we stayed together. How we grew as friends.

“It’s not that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, But it’s your best friends who are your diamonds.” - Gina Barreca

There are friends who didn’t understand my life choices. Who didn’t understand me when I chose to live a different life than them. There are those who got upset about it. I got rid of them. They are no longer part of my life. And there are those who are still on my side.

Even though our friendship is now based on a lot of Skype calls and WhatsApp messages. Our bond hasn’t changed. Despite the physical distance between us. The door is still slightly open. A message can push open that door anytime. And then we are in front of each other. As if I would be sitting on their bed. With them next to me. Despite the distance they are still there. More than ever.

A message you send me means so much to me. Countless times you made me smile. By a short message. Including the right words. At the right time. That is all we need.

“Good friends are like stars, you don’t always see them, but you know they are there.” - Christy Evans

Thank you

Thank you to all my friends. To the friends who always support me. No matter how different I am. I know I can count on you. No matter where I am in life. Or where I am in the world. You will always be there.

Thank you for being my friend.

Friendship
Inspiration
Life
Friends
Family
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