How Would you Define a Real Friendship?

@josie_ (9763)

Philippines

March 2, 2018 3:21am CST

"If you find just one true friend in your life time, you have been truly blessed." Discounting the number of Facebook "friends" which can sometimes ran into the thousands, how many would you consider a "true friend"? During our lifetime we will continue to meet people who share some common interest with us. This may develop into a longer and meaningful relationship (like marriage), gradually fade away because the mutual interest no longer exist or end abruptly because of irrevocable differences. We all have our "ideal" definition of what a real friendship is. What's yours? I like the humorous quote, "Real friends don't get offended when you insult them. They smile and call you something even more offensive." Real friendship is like an old sweater you've grown comfortable with. Despite it's frayed edges, a missing button or two and it's fading color...you still hold onto it. The photo was intentional, dogs being man's best friend. (OK JJ, cats too.)

21 people like this

27 responses

@Letranknight2015 (51537)

• Philippines

2 Mar 18

My dog is my real friend in my situation because he's loyal no matter what. It's rare to have real human friends because they got their own lives going for them.

4 people like this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

2 Mar 18

This is the second comment about dogs being a real friend. Perhaps I should change the post's title to "Does your dog consider you their best friend?"

2 people like this

@Letranknight2015 (51537)

• Philippines

2 Mar 18

@josie_ Im sure others will have other comments that maybe different from mine.

2 people like this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

2 Mar 18

@Letranknight2015 _I don't mind more comments about dogs. I'm also a dog lover.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (459397)

• Switzerland

2 Mar 18

Friends I can really trust and I know are ready to help, two. I do not even have a dog.

3 people like this

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@LadyDuck (459397)

• Switzerland

2 Mar 18

@josie_ I am sure the dog would have been the most loyal.

2 people like this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

2 Mar 18

A dog would have made that 3 real friends.

2 people like this

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Linda Mansfield (Snowdrop)

@sprite1950 (30453)

• Corsham, England

2 Mar 18

My dogs without a doubt have been my most loyal friends, they give unconditional love. In terms of humans I have two close friends, people I can trust and who would always be there for me.

2 people like this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

2 Mar 18

Then you are twice blessed with your friendships.

I also have pet dogs (4) so perhaps I should add...and women's too although most women would probably prefer a Prada bag.

1 person likes this

Linda Mansfield (Snowdrop)

@sprite1950 (30453)

• Corsham, England

2 Mar 18

@josie_ Haha, I'm sure they would rather have you!

1 person likes this

@Hannihar (129572)

• Israel

4 Mar 18

I agree if you can find at least one true friend you are very lucky. I do have one friend that supports me and I support her. Real friends are there for you and if you are not around and someone says something mean about you then they stick up for you.

1 person likes this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

4 Mar 18

Your comment raise another question. I usually am unaware (don't really care much) of people who gossip about me behind my back. So I'm not sure how I would react when a friend would inform me about another mutual acquaintance's speaking ill of me.

1 person likes this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

4 Mar 18

@Hannihar _You've heard the quote about "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never break me"? It's not true. Words can hurt. Should I inform my friend of what I heard knowing it would cause them pain or just keep silent?

1 person likes this

@Hannihar (129572)

• Israel

4 Mar 18

@josie_ I understand you would not want to know josefina. But how would you feel about the that talked behind your back after you heard what they said?

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@YrNemo (20261)

•

2 Mar 18

I have friends like that, one just called me yesterday after years of being silent. Trouble is, both of us are busy.

2 people like this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

2 Mar 18

So not the "Facebook" type but the "old sweater" kind that somehow got left behind the closet when you were decluttering and forgotten?

2 people like this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

2 Mar 18

@YrNemo _and added a restraining as well as a gag order for good measure. Now I understand the reason for the long years of silence.

1 person likes this

@YrNemo (20261)

•

2 Mar 18

@josie_ Oh no, I treasure all those old things (put them in some suitcases and dump them all in the shed)

.

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@Olixiamonty (14)

• United Kingdom

2 Mar 18

I think a true friendship is where your are trusting in eachother and would share everything. I know it’ll sound dodgy but like the bond an animals builds with you, they love you unconditionally even if you hurt them accidentally time to time.

1 person likes this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

2 Mar 18

I like the idea of "unconditional" friendship but dog-like devotion should be left with our four-legged friends.

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

2 Mar 18

@Olixiamonty _Don't mind my tongue in cheek comment. It was intended to be funny. BTW, welcome to mylot.

@Olixiamonty (14)

• United Kingdom

2 Mar 18

@josie_ I was meaning from bothe parties not just one sided but yes sometimes full blown obsession is not good in a relationship as some space is needed to grow with eachother

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@neha211985 (780)

• India

3 Mar 18

Friend is the one who stand with you through ups and downs. Whenever required friend will guide you ,fight with you or fight for you.

1 person likes this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

3 Mar 18

This is the general description of what a friend is or should be.

@jcvee2009 (151)

• Philippines

3 Mar 18

Yeah, dogs are really nice and trully loyal to their master..we've had a dog before and been with us for almost 7 yrs, but sadly his gone now. But as for humans, if a friend stays with you at your dark moments, at times that no one even seems to know you, or that almost everybody turns their back at you, then i think you got a treasure you should be proud and thankful of.

1 person likes this

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@jcvee2009 (151)

• Philippines

3 Mar 18

@josie_ that's true! You are trully lucky if that is so...

1 person likes this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

3 Mar 18

If you don't mind, I prefer a friend who not only stays with you in your moments of darkness but also brought along a flashlight or at least a candle to light your way back.

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@mydanods (6513)

• Nigeria

3 Mar 18

My friends share common interest with me and have a shoulder for me to cry on when life is difficult.

1 person likes this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

3 Mar 18

It's good to have someone to whom you can confide your problems to.

2 people like this

Sabrina Traversa

@sabtraversa (13032)

• Italy

2 Mar 18

Family members, partners and pets should be included as friends.

I see friendship as a mutual caring, if you wish someone well and try your best to be available in need, you're being a true friend. It's that simple.

However, you don't need to be in touch everyday, you realize who your friends really are when you don't hear from them for ages, but when you hear from them again, it feels like it always used to be. I think it applies to your simile with the old sweater.

1 person likes this

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Sabrina Traversa

@sabtraversa (13032)

• Italy

3 Mar 18

@josie_ True, some relatives can be great friends, others... we can't really avoid them.

And yeah, some might always get us in trouble, but at least they try to help us.

1 person likes this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

3 Mar 18

Unfortunately we can't choose our relatives and those can be our worst enemies as history have shown.. Also some friends are best kept at a distance not because they have ill-will towards us but because of their good intentions which keeps getting us into trouble.

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@nela13 (55734)

• Portugal

2 Mar 18

Real friends are difficult to find, I Thank God I met my best friend when I was six, at that age my sister was born and besides now we live in different countries we always support each other and we speak every day.

1 person likes this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

3 Mar 18

A true friend is like a rare gem. We might spend a life time and never find one. They say we can choose our friends but not our relatives. Your relationship with your sister is something to be treasured.

1 person likes this

@nela13 (55734)

• Portugal

3 Mar 18

@josie_ Yes, she is one of the pillars of my life.

1 person likes this

@stapllotik (1933)

• India

3 Mar 18

Hard times wipe out many friends from your life, the ones who still remain are true ones.

1 person likes this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

3 Mar 18

Very true. So called "friends" start avoiding you when you are down on your luck.

1 person likes this

@Favouredandblessed (26)

•

5 Mar 18

A real friend is one who is truly interested in you joy, comfort and well being and contributes to you achieving this

1 person likes this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

5 Mar 18

Who can make you joyful is someone I want for a friend.

MD.TAJUL ISLAM PRADHAN

@Prdhan (587)

•

2 Mar 18

Friendship is when you love with every ounce of your being and genuinely want them to be happy even if it means sacrificing something yourself.

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@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

2 Mar 18

@Prdhan _I would define "love" as a feeling and "friendship" as a process. Feelings can be irrational unlike a process which must proceed through a series of activities to achieve a certain result.

1 person likes this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

2 Mar 18

Why is love connected to friendship?

1 person likes this

MD.TAJUL ISLAM PRADHAN

•

2 Mar 18

@josie_ There is no friendship without love.That is no love story.

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@sjvg1976 (41131)

• Delhi, India

3 Mar 18

For me real friends are those who don't leave your hand even when you are down. But it's hard to have such people these days. I have a friend whom I can call a true friend as he is always there for me when I need him.

1 person likes this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

3 Mar 18

Maybe that is one reason for the phrase, "the hand of friendship". Someone who offer their hand to pull you up when you are down.

1 person likes this

Anne Marie Guyer

@LeaPea2417 (36517)

• Toccoa, Georgia

2 Mar 18

I have a few friends , but not a best friend.

1 person likes this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

3 Mar 18

Friendships are forge in the fire of crisis and tempered by time. Your friends might surprise you.

1 person likes this

@MALUSE (69409)

• Germany

2 Mar 18

Wise words! I hate being called 'friend' by myLot members I don't even have close contact with. One should use the word sparsely and only if one really means it.

1 person likes this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

3 Mar 18

"Friend" has become more of a generic term in this era of instant everything..Quantity having replaced quality, It has become a popularity contest. But come to think about it, it was also true to our generation.

• Bangalore, India

2 Mar 18

person with whom you thin your life is little incomplete

1 person likes this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

3 Mar 18

If your friend helps make your life complete, why not.

@Kandae11 (53692)

•

3 Mar 18

I have a few acquaintances - but my best friend is my mother.

1 person likes this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

3 Mar 18

Where else can we find understanding and compassion greater than that of our mother. She definitely qualifies as a best friend.

@squarecircles (4)

•

3 Mar 18

I think a real friendship is when you've known someone long enough where you've both seen the light and dark sides of each other but still respect and accept each other, even through the challenging times and life changes. And especially nowadays, when most interaction is done online, when you still find the time to occasionally hang out with each other in person, then you know your friendship is real.

1 person likes this

@josie_ (9763)

• Philippines

3 Mar 18

Although not easy, friendships are being made through the internet. It's like during my younger years of letter writing to pen pals in different parts of the world. Today we have on-line social networks. But nothing can replace an actual physical interaction.

1 person likes this