Friendship...

Whether you have one true friend, or many, is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. What matters is whether those friendships fill your cup—and as they say, my cup runneth over.

True friends love you, they encourage you, and they pick you up when you fall. They make you laugh when you want to cry, and remind you that no matter what, you’re not alone.

-> As long as you have at least that one person by your side, you are not alone.

I don’t have a large circle of friends, and honestly, I’ve never really wanted one. My circle is small, but fiercely loyal and incredibly supportive—they give me all that I need. Of course I have a lot of people in my life who I’m friendly with, but true friends—the ones who know my secrets, my fears, and my greatest vulnerabilities—well those friends are a rare gem.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a large friendship network, or a fun group but it’s just not for me.

-> I like the simplicity of my small circle.

My friends are there whenever I need them, no further away than a text message—because none of us like talking on the phone. You won’t see me at luncheons or Boys’ Night Out events, because I’m just not that kind—I don’t have it in me.

I prefer a quiet night in, on my sofa. If my friends come over, we roll in sweatpants, while sipping tea, and laughing until we can’t breathe. There’s no judgement, no expectations, just complete and total acceptance.

Finding true friendship can be a lot like working on a Trial & Error Method for that Internal Rate of Return, where outflows equal inflows. Some friendships are instant and effortless, while others just don’t work out. Sometimes great friends grow apart due to distance or time, and sometimes you get burned by someone you thought was a friend. We’ve all seen these various friendship scenarios playout. I’ve been fortunate enough to find some of the greatest friends a man could ask for, and as odd as it sounds, I’m content with the friends I have. I like my small circle, it suits me. This doesn’t mean I won’t make new friends, because I believe the people meant to be in our lives find us. But if these are those who surround me on my deathbed, I will leave this world peacefully, knowing the kind of love and acceptance that I wish for everyone.

vb.