Thursday Thirteen: June 22, 2006

Thirteen Things I've learned about the value of a true friend



1. no matter how wrong you are, no matter how foolish or misguided, a true friend will stick by you & support you. it's easy to stand behind a friend's choices when you agree with them; much less so to provide unconditional support, regardless of your personal feelings or opinions.

2. a true friend knows when to offer a hug; when to make you laugh; when to offer potential solutions; when to simply listen; and when to distract you with anything possible to give you the mental break you aren't smart enough to take for yourself.

3. a true friend notices the tiny details that no one else does. and remembers to follow up on even the little things when you haven't mentioned them recently.

4. a true friend fits these lyrics from "A Friend to Me" (Garth Brooks):

And there's times I'd rather kill you
Than listen to your honesty
But you've always been a friend to me

You've always been
Time and again
The one to take my hand
And show to me
It's okay to be
Just the way I am
With no apology

5. the art of reciprocation is something that a true friend understands the importance of practicing.

6. a true friend manages to be interested in what you have to say even if they would otherwise not go out in search of the information you are sharing.

7. a true friend knows that you can go several days without touching base & still be secure in your friendship...but they would rather not too much time elapse in silence.

8. a true friend not only emails with you all day but has several possible email addresses at which to reach you in case the primary one malfunctions...and you have their back up email addresses on file as well.

9. a true friend is someone whom it is never too early in the morning or too late at night to call if you need them...and who will not hesitate to call you at any hour if they need you. no apologies are necessary when the phone rings.

10. a true friend can sing the next line in the song you are singing to yourself.

11. a true friend gives generously without expecting anything in return but your continued friendship...but can accept tokens from you graciously, no matter how big or small they are, and treasure them.

12. a true friend calls you when the pregnancy test comes back positive; when the ultrasound technician accidentally reveals the baby's sex 3 weeks before her due date; to tell you she *still* hasn't given birth (because you are the only person who hasn't called her 15 times to ask if she has); and then 17 minutes after the baby arrives, calls from her hospital bed. and then she sends you photos every time you ask her to which is something along the lines of every 10 days.

13. a true friend never makes you feel bad about yourself; never allows you to feel less than you are worth; and who encourages you to hold on when you're one thin thread away from giving up.


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