Aspects of Friendship

This is the article I was working on last week when the idea of the “Lessons from Bees” showed up! So, here it is now!

Friendship is one of the most meaningful and enriching connections humans can experience. At its core, it’s about mutual affection, trust, and support between people who genuinely enjoy each other’s company. But friendship is more than just having fun together—it’s about being there in the highs and lows, sharing life’s moments, and growing alongside each other.

Let’s look at a few key aspects of friendship:

• Trust. True friends can be counted on. You can confide in them, rely on them, and know they’ll show up for you when it matters most.

• Acceptance. Friends accept you as you are. You don’t have to pretend or perform. They love you for your strengths, and they support you through your flaws.

• Communication. Honest, open, and respectful communication builds the foundation of any lasting friendship. Whether it’s deep conversations or silly jokes, what matters is the connection it creates.

• Support. A good friend is your cheerleader when you’re doing great and your anchor when you’re struggling. It’s about having someone who believes in you, especially when you’re having a hard time believing in yourself.

• Reciprocity. Friendship thrives when both people give and receive. It’s a balance of effort, listening, caring, and sharing.

• Growth. Great friendships challenge you to be better. They gently push you out of your comfort zone, help you grow emotionally, and offer different perspectives. But all this should be done with love.

Do you have friends who makes you feel bad about yourself? If you answer is “yes” I have to ask why you have them in your life. Remember my previous articles about boundaries? Isn’t it about time that you implement boundaries and take your power back? Please read them and decide what boundaries you need to implement.

Not all the friends will stay in your life for years. Some will leave it after school, college, or when they meet their special person. Friendships do not have to end badly as you may grow apart.

Recently, I have terminated friendships that didn’t add value to my life anymore. People can get lazy or discouraged to make contributions and you may end up making all the contributions. Or even worse, their toxicity spills over and contaminates the friendship. By cutting these “friends” off you are creating room for new and true friendships.