Friend In Deed

Look back on your middle and high school years, and remember how cool you thought it was to have a lot of friends? You felt like you were it knowing everyone from the nerds, class clowns, varsity football & basketball players, cheerleaders, class president, best dressed crew, upper-classman and so on? It was nothing more gratifying than feeling like the “popular” guy or girl in the school, the guy or girl who knew just about everyone, and everyone knew you or at least heard of who you were?

Remember having that clique or crew you rolled with every day in and out of school? You sat on the school bus together, posted up by the lockers together, sat at the cafeteria lunch tables together, walked the halls together, skipped classes together, talked about people together and even played hooky together, remember? To this day I still roll with the same crew even though we’re in different places in our lives. We all still keep in touch, connect with each other when possible, and share and value the same friendship and relationship we had first established with each other over the years.

Personally looking back on my middle and high school years, I can truly say that I was that guy- juvenile, clueless, naïve, immature, irresponsible, and silly like so many others who thought it was cool to know everyone, and consider everyone to be a friend which was typical at that age.

At the time I didn’t realize that some “friends” or so-called friends wouldn’t be around forever because I was so young, but now as a grown, mature adult I can say that I outgrew some of those friends and more than likely some of those friends outgrew me which is perfectly fine. You will have some friends who will come into your life temporarily for a reason or purpose but once that purpose is fulfilled they’re gone with the wind. Don’t fret, it’s cool- these friends and lost friendships will be re-established in time.

Now, I can say that the number of friends that have always been there for me despite our distance and location is few. These are the people who have been there for me when I was down and out, experiencing tough times, and going through hell. Take a look for yourself, think about times or a particular situation in your life where you were going through something serious, so serious that you didn’t know if you were coming or going. Look around, and see who was there for you at the drop of a dime. Who picked up the phone when you called at 1, 2, or 3 o’clock in the morning angry, confused, upset, yelling, and venting? Even if you weren’t upset but just needed someone to confide in, talk to and hear you out, who was there? These are the friends who will step out of their own comfort zone to help you and make sure you’re alright. These are the friends who will give it to you like it is truthfully and honest, they will protect you, get angry for you, laugh, and even shed a few tears with you. These friends are like an espousal system to you; they listen and give you advice that is only best for you. They add quality to your life and to others around you. These are the friends who never change but rather remain true to you and themselves no matter what comes their way. They remain loyal and have your back even when others begin to turn their backs on you.

Ascertain your REAL AND TRUE FRIENDS, who has been there for you despite the odds you faced aside from your family? Truth be told, you will realize how few real and true friends you really have.


"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." By, Anon.